Chapters Forward / Goals - Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12.
Foreword
12/07/2020 Acknowledgement
In Nineteen-seventy-one our Lord Jesus Christ revealed to my friend Ted these dispensational truths. To clarify its teaching, he was ordained in 1984 as a minister of the Gospel of our God and Savior. Our Lord then laid it on his heart that he should write a definitive book on Biblical dispensations.
He graduated in Theology and Bible with a minor in missions from Grace Christian University. Served as Associate Pastor in evangelism, and was a developer, administrator, and teacher of a Christian school (kindergarten through high school). Ted also served as a Senior Pastor until retirement.
For forty-seven years Ted prayed, prepared, studied, and sacrificed to write this much-needed book without neglecting any of his other responsibilities. These forty-seven years of perseverance and obedience made Ted a foremost and worldwide expert on dispensations. Four years ago, our Lord Jesus Christ spoke to me to help and encourage Ted and my reply was yes Lord I will work it in my schedule. Again, I heard the Lord kindly proclaim “now!” From that time on, I knew this book would be essential to God, our Lord Jesus Christ.
This book is an excellent tool for conservative Christians, enabling them to study the Holy Bible in the context of the dispensations. This book includes historical, prophetical, (past, present, and future), and so much more.
Why do you need this book, it is because you need to know dispensation definitions and the number of dispensations, and what dispensations we are living in. You need to know the seven operating rules of Major Dispensations, and how dispensations are Biblical Theology. Lastly, you need to know that covenants are not dispensations and dispensations are not covenants.
To summarize, this book is God's way to study and gain Biblical knowledge, wisdom, and eternal truths. This book is for all believers who confess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. It is beneficial to everyone. This book makes it possible to put all the treasures you discover within the Holy Bible into your heart, mind, and spirit!
Thank you, Ted, for writing this book, may the Lord bless you and this book for all it will accomplish. Please excuse me now as I am going to order my book, the only authoritative dispensational book, ever written! I pray that you will order yours soon too.
In Christ, (Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.").
David Grinde
On pg. xvii
Few Bible study topics cause as much confusion, consternation or controversy as the study of Dispensational Theology. Because of this struggle, the study of Dispensational Theology is often, avoided. And if it is studied, it is only given token attention thereby forfeiting a grand opportunity to understand and celebrate the gracious, continuing work of God among His People Israel.
Occasionally, a Bible student will answer the Lord’s call to document the results of a study of this important topic. Discovering, understanding, organizing, and communicating the gleanings of their study, these students offer a unique opportunity to grow in our appreciation of God’s revelation of this important doctrine.
Ted Pestor is one of these students. After spending years of studying and teaching the important aspect of Dispensational Theology as a pastor/teacher, Ted offers us an opportunity to grasp the fundamental elements of this important doctrine.
His systematic, comprehensive, and persuasive teaching in this volume provides us an opportunity to grow in our own understanding of this Bible doctrine and to prepare us to help others learn as well.
Choosing to read and study this book will reward a learner with an unusual blessing as they dig deeper into the Bible doctrine of Dispensational Theology.
Charles Gaston M Div.
In a day of theological ambivalence, it is refreshing to read Ted Pestor’s theological treatise, The Essential Criteria of Dispensational Theology for the Professional and Layperson, which while bringing a renewed understanding to the historical/grammatical interpretation of the Bible, emphasizes God’s great unfolding drama of redemption as developed through the various dispensations. Especially of interest are his thoughts on the threefold rejection of the Godhead by the nation of Israel (rejection of the Father in the Old Testament Kingdom, rejection of the Son at the Cross, and the rejection of the Holy Spirit at Stephen’s stoning). Any true student of eschatology ought to give serious consideration to the details reviewed in The Essential Criteria of Dispensational Theology for the Professional and Layperson.
Rick Bloom MRE.
Who is Ted Pestor, and why should you read this author's book about the Bible?
I am so glad you asked!
Ted is a loving, faithful, family man, an obedient, God-fearing servant to the Lord with a heart of gold, and someone who listens intently to the Holy Spirit's leading on the heart. He has been faithful despite his challenging upbringing from early childhood and leaving home as a teenager. Let us say when the Holy Spirit says, "Jump! Ted says, "How high, Lord?"
Ted, who grew up in a hard-working family of dairy farmers, was also a medal-winning hero and Vietnam veteran. He lives out his retirement in Deforest, Wisconsin. He was ordained in 1984 and attended Grace Christian University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Over the last 47 years, he has been involved with Christian School teaching and evangelism and has pastored several small churches as God's faithful servant. Ted has studied the Bible and set out to understand dispensations, "time frame,” and how Bible truths apply to life. These dispensations are a unifying operational system created by God.
So, why is there a need to read this book?
While serving in the war, he was prepared to die if needed and go to heaven. He would pray for the men God had him to rescue so they may come to know Jesus Christ as their personal savior. Ted received two “Distinguish Flying Cross” medals while serving as a Marine in 1968 with the Purple Fox Squadron 364 in rescue. Ted views this book with the same mission of compassion in mind.
When Ted was young, he was observing his mother's Bible and realized there were certain parts of the Word of God she would read more often than others were, and as a result, she could not see the unity and symmetry of scripture.
At the time, he wondered why she did not read or study the whole Bible. It was then that he discovered that she read and studied certain areas because she understood them better but lacked the unity of God's complete works through the dispensations, and she lacked how they applied today. She would often turn to man's commentary for her answers instead of diving deeper into the symmetry of scripture designed by God.
Does it Sound familiar? If so, please, keep reading:
Ted believes a key breakthrough for him on his journey of understanding God's grace, forgiveness, mercy, and love was to personalize each Scripture verse. Such as, "For God so loved (Your Name), that He gave His Only Son, that when (Your Name) believes in Him, (Your Name) will not perish, but have everlasting (eternal) life" (Jn. 3:16). Through this method of study, the Holy Spirit began to change his life supernaturally, and He will do the same for you too!
But, how does this apply to you?
Well, do you ever look around at what is happening in the world or come across a scripture passage and wonder, "What in the world is going on, what does this all mean?"
Whether you are a Doctor of Theology, a Pastor, or layperson who is hungry for more depth in your understanding, this book is for you. Allow Ted to be your administrative guide to show you what led you to this point in the journey of life and how the Bible practically relates to you today in your daily walk.
He can help you better understand how God can forgive your worst sin when you continue to repeat the same mistake repeatedly; after all, he wondered the same thing, which inspired him to write this specifically for you.
It is not a mistake that you are reading this right now. God ordains our steps after all, but it is up to you if you will listen and dive deeper into understanding His word.
The challenge has been set for you, my friend. One cannot just learn wisdom from intellectual endeavors alone, rather you must learn from God's own word, the Bible.
Anyone who is trying to leave God out of his or her life is looking for failure. Not listening to God's revealed knowledge and wisdom, which He recorded through the Bible, sets you up for failure and a doomed eternity apart from God, instead of allowing the compass of God and the Holy Spirit to guide and direct your life.
Will you listen to the call?
My Dad Ted sure hopes so, for you, your loved ones, and the people's lives who you will potentially reach one day.
I hope and pray that all who read this work will be encouraged to seek out God’s truths found only in the Bible. I hope they desire to discover more of the dispensational symmetry and workings of God in the seven dispensations and operating criteria found in the Bible since creation.
I hope you ask yourself these questions; where are my priorities (Psalms 9:10, 14:2, 40:16, and 122:9)? What is my number one priority of my life? Second, what is the next? I pray and hope your priority number one is according to Mark 12:30, Mathew 22:37, Jude 1:21, Psalms 84:1 and 2 Thessalonians 3:5! Please look up these verses in your answer to these questions! For your answer to question two, I hope it will be according to Mark 12:31, Hebrews 10:25, and 2 Timothy 2:15!
If you have any questions or encouragement please email me. As long as the Rapture has not occurred or I have not gone home yet, I will do the best to answer you. You can reach me at pastor@pestor.com. For further understanding of God’s working for your life, and to contribute, visit World Wide Outreach Ministry at www.pestor.com today.
On pg. xxii
To Mary Ann, my wife, for your support and encouragement, to Richard Huntington BS for editing of the charts, and to all the editors who gave their advice and reviewed this book for accuracy and understanding! I would not have been able to write this book without your help. Our Lord will reward you for your services to the public by which these truths will help in the understanding of God’s working through the centuries and through this author. Finally, I would like to thank Jeremy Pestor BS, Richard Huntington BS, David Grinde, Pastor Charles Gaston M.Div., Pastor Richard Bloom M.RE, Pastor Michael Lawler M.Div., Robert Blaser, Paul Mathews, Joshua Anderson, Jena Williams, Denise Trevorrow and Jeremy Waller.
Introduction
Goal of the book: Have you ever felt that you do not adequately know the Word of God, or how it relates to you as an individual? The goal of this book is two-fold. First, it is meant to fulfill the admonition found in Hebrews 5:12-14. Second, it is to move readers towards maturity in fulfillment of Hebrews 6:1-3.
Hebrews 5:12-14: “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
Hebrews 6:1-3: “Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection; if not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits.”
So what is the big deal? As Christians, we are to take the advice of these verses seriously and as a warning in our relationship to our Lord. Believers are to continually grow and cultivate their passion for Jesus. Studying and learning about His wondrous workings since creation is essential for our lives today. Also, learning history is paramount to taking His admonition seriously and to heart as we seek to understand His Word. In so doing we will witness how He changes lives. Communicating the word to humanity today is also vital and pleasing to our Lord. Therefore, we must grow in our knowledge of Him and His word.
The Dispensational teachings included throughout this book are meant to draw teachers and students together. In so doing, they will send a clear message of God’s love and tender care for us. Dispensational instructions present a clear and unified message of scripture, relating to His entire sovereign plan of redemption throughout history.
God planned everything from before creation through all of eternity. The Godhead prearranged salvation and designed it though Christ Jesus. God also knew in His foreknowledge that humanity would fail in their faithfulness throughout each Major Dispensation.
God planned the timing of the incarnation when Jesus would come to earth. The Godhead in eternity past chose the Second Person of the Trinity, the Lord Jesus Christ our magnificent Lord, to fulfill the redemption plan.
God completed the redemptions provision for all eternity, and the last dispensation, the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time will not fail (Eph. 1:4, 1:10, 2 Tim. 1:9, Tit. 1:2; Rev. 21-22).
Specific teachings of Major Dispensations will unite theologians and lay-teachers together. Ultimately, the instructions will give a correct and clear understanding of scripture. Seeking to provide a clear understanding of God’s truth is vital. Most importantly, scripture will give you an anchor for your spiritual life and growth, aiding you in your life!
Dispensational education will provide Biblical understanding and give needed accuracy. Dispensations open the eyes and reveal the errors of replacement theology, covenant theologians, and others.
But is the Bible really accurate? Over forty different inspired (God-breathed) authors wrote the Bible. Writing the Bible took more than 1,600 years. Many of the authors did not live at the same time as each other. The authors revealed His word with accuracy through His inspiration. Each one gave to humanity much needed truth.
God used their personalities to record His exact truths through His precise revelation in an orderly and planned symmetrically fashioned design. God used them as His instruments in the writings. He directed, and led His plan, presenting the symmetry and unity accurately as He led them.
God showed His existence and His foreknowledge by planning the schematic of Biblical truths outlined in scripture; He also demonstrated the historical workings, predetermining them in an orderly fashion. He used dispensational economies in carrying out His plan from eternity past to eternity future. These truths of scripture are absolute with no contradictions.
God planned Major Dispensations. He scheduled them to bring about His redemption plan of Jesus Christ to humanity. He knew humanity’s failure in eternity past and planned their redemption (Gal. 4:4). The deity elected the son, Jesus Christ to provide salvation. He provides this salvation to an unknown number, which only He knows over the centuries (Heb. 7:18-22). Let’s look at some verses to help us understand this:
Hebrews 1:1-4: “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son; whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the precise image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”
Romans 5:12-19: “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience (the Lord Jesus Christ) many will be made righteous.”
Romans 8:29-30: “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified these He also glorified.”
1 Corinthians 1:18: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, (dispensational teaching throughout Scripture) that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Galatians 4:4: “But, when the fullness of the time had come,” God sent forth His Son, (Dispensation of Promise) born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those (All, humanity who will receive Him) who were under the law (all Old Testament Saints), that we (all future dispensations) might receive the adoption as sons.”
1 Corinthians 2:15-17: “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, as so many, peddling the Word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.”
2 Corinthians 4:4-3: “But, even if our Gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god (Satan) of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”
Note: Underlining, paraphrases, and comments are from the author for emphasis and clarification purposes only.
Why do I need to know this? Knowing dispensations and their operating system will unite your understanding of God’s plan for your life. Dispensational symmetry gives unity as it presents us with the complete results of the Bible.
A correct approach to Scripture is essential in bringing many individuals to a saving knowledge of our amazing Lord Jesus at this time of history. I hope and pray that many will find salvation through the magnitude of truth hidden in God’s Word. It is just waiting to be discovered and revealed!
The educated masses are observing Bible teachers and are looking for consistency. The masses want a clear exposition of scripture. In light of this, it is helpful to challenge believers today to be consistent and accurate as they learn God’s truths.
There will always be some who will come to appreciate and accept a dispensational view as they will understand and value the symmetrical schematic of God’s Word and accept it.
Sadly, after reading the Bible, others will reject God’s truths, including the Major Dispensational teachings because of the darkness and rebellion of their hearts.
Nevertheless, when teaching, endeavor to be clear and accurate for the Bible is clear and because of its clarity, those who reject its message are accountable to God (2 Cor. 2:15-17).
How does this relate to me? It relates to all believers because they will see the symmetry of God’s Word, and how, it reveals His working throughout history. It enlightens us, and it gives us a clear, consistent, and accurate understanding of the progressive truths of scripture.
For example, it is like coming from behind a dark curtain, into a lighted room. Suddenly, everything is made clear. You now see the whole picture in the light of faith and are enabled to come out of your former darkness.
In addition, you must recognize that there is a need to adjust your personal life. You must go on living to God’s glory through Jesus Christ, for He is more than enough.
What else should I know? Understanding Major Dispensations allows you to comprehend and grasp prophecies relating to the future of Israel as a nation and its role among today’s church.
The LORD Jesus Christ is represented today in His transformed believers; the church, which is also called His body. Capitalizing the word “LORD” emphasizes that He is God, the second person of the trinity. The lowercase version of the word "Lord" is a reference to His all-embracing person in a general sense.
A note for Jewish audiences: Jewish people today desperately need to accept these truths. Jews need salvation; they need to accept Jesus as their Messiah, and the Lord God as Savior. Clarifying the message of salvation to the Jewish man or woman will give them a future hope. Salvation ends at the rapture for them who reject the LORD.
They will experience the events of the "Irreversible Punitive Judgment.” These come after the rapture of the body of Christ (Is. 25:9; 26, Rom. 9-11).
Rapture: the name is of an event. It means to be caught up in the air by the savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, and to live with Him forever.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18: “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
This goal, as revealed through the Seven Major Dispensations, is rewarding to us as it gives us a better understanding of the LORD Jesus Christ.
These, along with the Seven Operational Keys, function and are essential to Biblical accuracy. The Seven Operating Keys of a dispensation move history forward. The Seven Operational Keys are the rules of the mechanical principles. Their Operation System is integral in the Seven Major Dispensations of God’s design.
The dynamic Seven Keys usher in new economies and change history from one Major Dispensation to the next. In fact, without all seven of them, the Major Dispensations would not change (see chapters 6-12).
In addition to understanding the Seven Keys, you must understand them in terms of their relationship to covenants. All the bond covenants are significant. The Seven Keys reveal how the bond covenants work within the progression of dispensations. The Seven Keys enlighten the workings of the Lord God with humanity throughout history.
Remember: LORD (capitalized) emphasizes that He is God the son, the Second Person of the trinity. Otherwise, Lord (lowercase) refers to a specific aspect of the total deity and to the godhead.
The workings of dispensations and covenants bring the history of the Redemptive Covenant to fulfillment. God’s Redemptive Covenant is the Major Covenant. It reveals humanity’s eternal salvation.
Whereas the Seven Major Dispensations show the historical events, the Operational Keys bring the covenant progression through a Dispensation of history.
The Seven Major Dispensations then bring about progressive fulfillment of God’s Master Plan, the Redemptive Covenant, and covenants.
The triune Godhead planned the Redemptive covenant in eternity past. The first prophecy pertaining to this can be found in Genesis 3:15.
This covenant is a sacrificial covenant given for humanity justification. It brings the provision of forgiveness of sin by Jesus Christ and provides individuals with their eternal adoption as sons and daughters.
This provision was an atoning blood sacrifice of Himself, giving a man or woman endless forgiveness (Ps. 103, Rom. 3:23, 1 Jn. 2:1-2). It will be expounded fully in later chapters, and more detail will be presented in the section titled Redemptive Covenant.
Seven Major Dispensations run from eternity past to eternity future. Planned by the Lord God in an orderly symmetrical revelation, they were designed by the Lord.
The past Dispensations of scripture brought the impeccable hypostatic union into the world (The Dispensation of Promise). The Lord Jesus Christ became human to provide salvation. It was orderly, systematical, a grand finality to His redemptive works. It could only have been accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ (Matt. 1:18-24).
Hypostatic union is the union of Christ’s humanity and divinity, two in one. Christ is completely God and completely human. He is the only one who existed as two in one. The eternal God was completely capable, in human form, of dying for the fallen state human depravity.
Depravity: Viciousness, wickedness, immorality, corruption, evil, adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like. All are capable of these in thought, expression, and action.
So then, dispensations explain Christ Jesus, His first coming in history, and salvation for both the Jews and Gentiles. They also define the next event called the Rapture and they describe His second coming on the earth.
Our salvation comes from the Godhead’s kindness, mercy, and grace working through trust and faith in the magnificent LORD Jesus Christ.
God’s gift and working of salvation was accomplished through the Lord Jesus Christ. God’s justice was paid by the substitutionary sacrifice of our LORD. Jesus took on man’s punishment so that all of humanity could be saved. He alone gave the gift of forgiveness and eternal life to humanity (Rom. 6:23).
Our Lord’s work of deliverance for eternity frees humanity from its depravity (Rom. 5; 6:23, Tit. 3:5, Eph. 2:7-9).
Titus 3:4: “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared.”
Salvation is like a pardon given to a person on death row. Our Lord God ultimately empowers the pardon. It is eternally valid and complete, and it fulfills all of our needs.
The Lord God’s pardon is accessible through forgiveness to everyone who will receive it for himself or herself. The Lord God knows, through foreknowledge, those who will accept or reject the gift of this pardon. Consequently, one cannot say they did not have the opportunity to acquire salvation.
Acts 17: 24-31: “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, “For we are also His offspring.” Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”
A pardon is only useful when an individual accepts it from the giver. A pardon is extended to a guilty individual, one who cannot change by his or her power. Therefore, the guilty individual needs to receive mercy and grace.
The pardon itself is the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was all completed in His incarnation. His incarnation was for each individual person. It was accomplished so that each person could accept His pardon (Jn. 1:12, Rom. 10:9-13).
Those who receive His pardon acquire forgiveness. This is because Christ Jesus paid the sufficient eternal payment in blood for the sins and sin nature of all humanity (Eph. 1:7).
When you look at 1 Jn. 5:9-14, Jn. 1:12 and Rom. 10:9-13, they will reveal eternity to you. In addition, when you read and listen to Ep. 1:13-14, Jn. 3:16, Ps. 103, Jn. 10:28-30, 1 Jn. 5;12-13, Rom. 8 and Jn. 17 you will see and hear that God has given you a verbal promise of fulfillment. Let the Word of God speak to you through these verses!
Someone may ask how Dispensations and this book relate to Jesus. How then do dispensations reveal what Jesus came to do?
2 Tim. 3:16-17: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
All Scripture was written so that we could believe in Jesus. By believing on Him we can have life in His name. God used Dispensations to reveal the totality of His dealing with humanity across all of human existence. Christ Jesus lived a perfect life and humans do not. However, Dispensations show us examples of what we all need, namely correction and reproof, so that we can live upright lives. The following verses teach us this:
Galatians 4:4-6: “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
Romans 3:26: “to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
Galatians 3:22: “But the Scripture has confined all under sin that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.”
Romans 3:9-18: ”What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” “Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit”; “The poison of asps is under their lips”; “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; Destruction and misery are in their ways; And the way of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
How do Dispensations show the Lord Jesus Christ? God shows, through progressive revelation, the entire plan of redemption, revealed through the operations of the dispensations. Culminating with their teaching is the exemplary truth of the appearance of Christ Jesus the LORD.
All Seven Major Dispensations connect the history of the incarnation to the liberating gospel truth of the LORD Jesus Christ. Dispensations show the Biblical teachings of progressive events. They show humanity’s involvement with covenants throughout history. Operating developments show human stewardship in each operating Dispensation.
Dispensations are the organization and revelation pointing to Jesus Christ. The Godhead planned redemption through the Lord Jesus before creation. His plan is sufficient to usher in the end of the world. Subsequently, His plan is effective in bringing His children into eternity.
God has given humanity a written record of events so that they might believe in Jesus Christ (Jn. 20:31). These events are organized in the form of dispensations, which form the history of humanity.
Divorcing the doctrine of the Godhead has led to false religions. The result is error and spiritualization.
The names God used in scripture have many characteristics. They show God’s attributes through His interactions with humanity.
For example, "Yahweh Elohim" or "I AM" the LORD God which was first used in Genesis 2:4.
Yahweh is the pre-incarnate LORD Jesus Christ (Ex. 3:13-15, 6:2-3, Jer. 23:5-6). The Hebrew word YHWH (Yahweh, Jehovah) is the name of God the Son. It is used in the Old Testament and is translated using capital letters (LORD) in many English translations.
Yahweh is used 6,807 times in the Old Testament. Yahweh is not a translation because it does not mean “Lord.” Instead, it means something like, “I am who I am” or “I will be who I will be.”
The book of John often quotes Jesus saying that He is the “I Am” (Jn. 4:26, 6:20, 8:24, 28, 58, 13:19, 18:5).
Take note of the names associated with the Godhead in the Old Testament scriptures. The references to Jesus identify Him as Yahweh. The name "Yahweh" is the one used most. Jesus Christ is also used in the Old Testament as a mediator before His incarnation. Look at the meaning, and you will quickly discover that the Jesus of the New Testament is the same as the one in the Old.
Elohim is the name of the trinity or Godhead. You can determine the meaning of the rest of the names by looking at their context.
Along with their specific revelations, the title Lord reveals the Godhead, and at times, the Lord identifies Jesus Christ directly. The use of the Lord is in connection with the operating Dispensations in the history of humanity.
The Lord God’s name represents His character, His attributes, and His nature. Therefore, when we know His names we know Him better.
Boasting in His name is to have confidence in who He is! No matter whatever difficulties one goes through in life, we can call upon Him by His name. Find rest in our LORD Jesus Christ in times of need.
Introduction names of God in the Old Testament:
| Name; Old Testament | Meaning |
Reference Old and New Testament |
Times |
Adonai |
Lord, Master |
Eph. 6:9; Ps. 71:5 |
27 times |
EL |
God, generic word |
Jn. 1:14; Ex. 31:18 |
221 Times |
El Shaddai |
Lord God Almighty, the all sufficient One |
Acts 17:23-31; Gen. 17:1 |
48 times |
El Elyon |
The Most High God, the Sovereign Lord |
II Cor. 2; Mk. 10:17-34; Ps. 78:35 |
428 times |
Eloah |
Eloah is the singular form of Elohim |
Deut. 10:17 |
52 times |
El Olam |
The Everlasting God |
Jn. 1:1, 14, Rev. 22:12, 13; Gen. 21:17 |
440 times |
El Roi |
The God who sees |
Gen. 16:13, Jn. 1:47, 48 |
1 time |
Elahh |
God |
Dan. 2:28 |
74 times |
Elohim |
Deity, Almighty God, Godhead |
Gen. 1:1, Rom. 1:20 |
2,340 times |
Illay |
Highest |
Lk. 2:14, Deut. 10:14 |
9 times |
Jehovah |
The Lord My Banner |
Ex. 17:8-15, Is. 11:10, 11, Rom. 8:38-39 |
1 time |
Jehovah-Raah |
The Lord is the Way, my Shepherd, |
Ps. 23:1, Matt. 26:31, Heb. 13:20 |
173 |
Jehovah Rapha |
The Lord That Heals |
Ex. 15:26, Matt. 4:3 |
67 times |
Jehovah Shammah |
The Lord Is There |
Ez. 48:35; Jn. 8:58 |
1 time |
Jehovah Tsidkenu |
The Lord Our Righteousness |
Jer. 23:6; Rom. 5:17,21 |
2 times |
Jehovah Mekoddishkem |
The Lord Who Sanctifies You |
Heb. 2:10-13, Ex. 31:13 |
173 times |
Jehovah Jireh |
The Lord Will Provide |
Gen. 22:13-14, Jn. 3:16, |
1 time |
Jehovah Shalom |
The Lord Is Peace |
Judg. 6:24, Jn. 14:27 |
1 time |
Jehovah Sabaoth |
The Lord of Hosts |
II Pet. 3:9; I Sam. 1:3 |
78 times |
Qanna |
Jealous |
Jas. 4:5, Deut. 4:24; 6:6:15 |
6 times |
Rapha |
The God who heals |
Lk. 4:18;10:11; Ex. 15:26 |
7 times |
Shaddai |
The God of heaven |
Ps. 91:1, Gen. 24:3,7 |
48 times |
Yah |
short form of Yahweh |
Ex. 15:2; Ps. 89:9 |
40 times |
Yahweh |
Lord, Jehovah, Covenant Keeping, loyal, loving God |
Rev. 1:4-8, |
6,807 times |
DispensationsDispensations point to God, revealing the deity and works of each person of the Godhead. The historical record of the scriptures is a progression that explains our Lord. All the dispensations point to the Lord Jesus Christ. All seven of the Major Dispensations look to the cross and the Lord’s work finished in the Redemption Covenant, and the eternal state of creation.
Scripture brings understanding through Operational Dispensations. When you walk away from these facts, you reject God’s revelation. Specifically, the revelation of our wonderful LORD, Jesus Christ is the only way of eternal life! Jesus is the “Word,” and the Word was God from eternity (Jn. 1:1, 14). Divorcing any part of God’s clear teachings is a rejection of God the Holy Spirit.
This inspiration of God the Holy Spirit teaches the truths of God the Father and God the Son. The Spirit reveals God the Son throughout the scriptures, exposing the truth about salvation as it operates in the Seven Major Dispensations of scripture. God the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the trinity, inspires the Bible (2 Tim. 3:16, 2 Pet. 1:21).
I recommend reading this book with the Bible in hand more than once. Read it straight through the first time and the second time take your time and look up the scriptures that go with the study.
The operating schematic of the Seven Keys reveals the workings within the Major Dispensation. The schematic design makes sense of God’s plan and the workings therein, as explained in the Bible.
This truth of the Biblical Godhead is that Jesus Christ is the Great “I Am.” Jesus Christ is the mediator for humanity in the Old Testament! In the Old Testament, He is the pre-incarnate mediator. In the New Testament, He is the incarnate mediator for humans. The LORD Jesus Christ said, “If He has been seen (personally) the Father has been seen” (Jn. 6:46, 14:9).
God's recorded Word and the documented testimonies of historians, who lived during the life of Jesus, attest to His existence.
Christians saw Him alive after His resurrection (1 Cor. 15:3-8). Jesus Christ and the Father are one with the Holy Spirit, "the Godhead" (Jn. 16:5-15, 17:1-24).
If the term God always referred only to the Father then we would miss the truth of the teaching of scriptures in the Old and New Testament. We would lose the truth of the trinity and Godhead.
Remember, “All Scripture is given,” this not only includes the New Testament but all of Scripture as well. It is all from God! The Old Testament reveals the incarnate “WORD” of God.
Take time to understand the schematic and its teaching of Dispensations. Do not overlook the Dispensational viewpoint’s liberating understanding of history. The Bible is the layout of God’s documented truth. His Word, the Bible, is the liberating defense for believers.
Recommendation!
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---------------------------------------------
On pg. 1
Chapters Forward / Goals - Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12.
Dispensations reveal God’s workings throughout hisory as they fulfill His redemptive plan. This is redemption accomplished through Christ Jesus the LORD eternal.
Note: The fully capitalized word LORD is emphasizes that he is God the second Person of the trinity. The use of the Lord in small letters is a reference to His person in general. When the word Dispensation, is capitalized, it refers to the Major Dispensation. When it is not capitalized, it refers to the dispensation’s operation, or as a general term for a dispensation.
The Dispensations show aspects of the progressiveness of God’s plan of redemption through the LORD Jesus Christ for your salvation. They show that humanity has always failed to trust and obey God. As such, humanity is a state of continual depravity. Therefore, all are in need of Christ Jesus the Lord.
The Dispensations also reveal His longsuffering in light of humanity’s constant attempts to be god. Humanity always fails when it rejects God’s truths and is disobedient.
Rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ, the mediator between God and any man or woman brings condemnation. Dispensations document the inability of humans to change on their own. Throughout scripture, we see humanity’s need for God’s intervention.
Dispensations clearly reveal our inability to change without God. They leave us with a cognitive choice to accept or deny Him. We cannot therefore, make excuses for not following Christ, because after reading His word we are no longer ignorant. We must wisely consider and agree, subordinating to the facts outlined in the Word of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18-31: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
The truth is, because of its depravity, humanity cannot achieve holiness or any lasting righteousness. Human activity alone only leads to complete spiritual failure, as shown in each recorded Dispensation.
It is vitally essential to cling to the LORD Jesus at all times and study His revealed eternal Word. Accept His ways over your ways and the imaginations of your own heart, for His ways will not lead you astray.
When you choose to follow Him, you will find inner peace and hope. These can only be given to you from the creator of your soul.
Studying the Bible will bring lasting and complete fulfillment to your inner longings. Truly successful people lean on the truths of the LORD Jesus Christ and His Word.
The entire history of humanity shows God’s foreknowledge. It even shows that He is the architect of the history of the human race (Acts 17:26-27).
Those who cling to God can be thankful for the imputing of righteousness to them. Grounded in His love, mercy, and grace through Christ Jesus, our LORD, this reflects His longsuffering to humanity! Everyone who knows these truths for themselves should seek to live in appreciation for Him.
If Adam and Eve had trusted and obeyed, the truth of God, and what He said, life would have been different. Living completely for God in all circumstances, reflects God to others. No matter how hard and difficult your experiences, living for God shows hope, faith, and faithfulness.
Faith is demonstrated when you submit to His will, regardless of your understanding at the time. Living for God, even through confusion or suffering, it shows confidence in the object of your faith.
Remember, faith is a substance of action and hope, trusting in Him. Having a willingness to obey the architect shows your faith, and desire to follow Him.
Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:6: “But, without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is. He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
It is necessary to receive God’s plan of transformation, which He alone has given. God gave redemption through our superlative Lord Jesus Christ “for whosoever will receive.”
He is the only Savior and the mediator between God and us (Jn. 3:15-16). God’s work through Jesus Christ began in Genesis chapter one and will complete at the end of the book of Revelation.
Dispensational truths give order and symmetry to the schematic understanding the Bible. Dispensational facts relate to all humanity since creation, and these truths continue to the end of the world.
The Dispensational operation revealed in the Bible shows the symmetry of the workings of God. It is incredibly awesome and liberating to learn about His preservation. You discover how much God loves us, and just how much His love surpasses human understanding.
He has gone through so much for humanity, to bring you forgiveness and eternal life, where there will be no more tears and death. Sin and evil will be no more, and divine justice will be carried out on the evil ones (Rev. 21-22, Is. 25:8).
Often the word “dispensation” is an ambiguous term to the Bible student. However, this word is not complicated, and once understood, it is actually quite clear.
Some of our modern translations of the Scripture use the word “administration.” This is a result of translating the original Greek word “dispensation.” Both terms refer to an economy with rules for the society that governs it for a time.
Dispensation and administration both have stewards. They have the responsibility to carry out the laws of the leader. Time does not control a Biblical dispensation’s operation. The controlling factor is the longsuffering of God. God responds with longsuffering to humanity’s complete failure when following Him in a Dispensation.
Stewards make up the stewardship of an institution within a Dispensation. The steward’s responsibility is to execute the Dispensation according to God’s design. Thus, this organized institution has a chain of command. The chain of authority is to form an orderly dispensation operation according to the designer (Elohim, the One and only triune God).
Furthermore, if the economy does not fail, a dispensation will not change. There will not be a need for a new Stewardship Institution or a Dispensation if no failure occurs.
Every Stewardship Institution is a reflection of its steward(s). Spiritual believers are responsible for obedience to the eternal God, and His eternal Kingdom. If the stewards are failing, they need to repent and get back to the truths of God.
There are always two kingdoms operating at the same time, one physical and one spiritual. The flesh is temporary, and the spiritual is eternal.
In eternity past, God designed the Redemptive Covenant. The covenant provided eternal life, working within the dispensations, and brought about salvation by the Lord Jesus Christ.
Humanity’s response to the redemptive work of God determines their eternal destiny. A person’s response determines whether they spend eternity in heaven or hell. Needed by humanity and offered by the Lord Jesus Christ freely, redemption is given (Rom. 6:23).
Dispensations or administrations recorded in the Bible are spiritually ordained operating mechanics created by God. They operate in history to fulfill God’s plan.
God’s Redemptive Covenant since creation provides atonement throughout the dispensations as designed. God’s redemptive plan was working in all Dispensations before the Lord Jesus Christ finished His works, and now after His incarnation, both are working out God’s plan of reconciliation.
He revealed an animal blood covering atonement before Jesus Christ. After Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, we have forgiveness through His blood sacrifice (Eph. 1:7).
The Redemptive Covenant works within a dispensation. The Lord Jesus Christ gives complete forgiveness to sinners. Imputing salvation to whosoever will receive His provision by faith.
Receiving and repentance go together. Whenever an individual turns from their ways to God’s way of salvation, it transforms them now and forever (Jn. 1:12, 1 Jn. 2:1-3, 1 Jn. 5: 9-14, Rom. 2:4, 2 Cor. 7:10).
Dispensations or administrations recorded in the Bible are spiritually ordained governments. God has designed and has used them since creation. These spiritual governments are the stewards meant to administer His Redemptive Covenant.
God revealed the atonement before and after Jesus Christ through His Dispensations. During the dispensational period that was in operation before Christ Jesus, individuals had a covering of sin, waiting for Christ’s finished work of the New Covenant with complete forgiveness.
Animal sacrifices and faith were a covering (Ps. 32:1, transgressions, “one being covered-over,” Heb. 7:27, 10:11) before Jesus Christ’s death offered complete forgiveness (Heb. 9:22, Rom. 4:1-5, Eph. 1:7).
Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, operating through the governing Dispensation, was and is sufficient for all believers. In the Dispensation today, He gives complete forgiveness to sinners by imputing salvation to whoever will receive His provisions by faith.
Receiving and repentance go together when an individual turns from their ways to God’s way of salvation (Jn. 1:12, 1 John 2:1-3, 5:9-14, Rom. 2:4, 2 Cor. 7:10).
There are Seven Major Dispensations and Seven Operational Rules, which are also known as the mechanical rules. They guide the understanding of the workings in each dispensation’s operation.
Four of the Dispensations on this earth have already failed, and two others are still to end in failure. Yet, with each failure, God in His foreknowledge continues to show us His character.
His longsuffering towards humanity and His love, mercy, and grace are all still available. Everyone needs to be spiritually transformed by and through faith in Christ Jesus (Rom. 10:9-10).
Spiritual transformation is according to the Biblical revelation He has offered and gives in each Dispensation. Salvation starts today with repentance. This means turning away from yourself and turning to Jesus Christ the Lord!
Acts 17:30-31: “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”
Romans 2:4: “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”
2 Corinthians 7:10: “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”
2 Timothy 2:25: “in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,”
Acts 4:11-12: “This is the “stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone (Jesus).” Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
On pg. 7
Note: To aid in the discussion below, please see the Seven Major Dispensations on the enclosed chart and their order of governance.
The Dispensation of Innocence: This Dispensation starts in Genesis 1:1, and runs through chapter three. The duration lasts for about 100 years. This Dispensation records the history of creation. The Dispensation chronicles life before and after sin's entrance into humanity and Satan. This Dispensation also reveals creation and the beginning of time, for example "In the beginning,” (time is a creation by Elohim).
The prophetic promise of the infinite LORD Jesus Christ and His victory, are seen for the first time in Genesis (Gen. 3:15, 1 Pet. 1:20). We also see that God planned all things by His sovereignty (His dominion and authority), His omnipresence (His presence in all places at all times), His omnipotence (He is all-powerful), and His omniscience (He is all-knowing.). He planned and fulfilled His eternal plan in Christ Jesus the LORD using Dispensations (Col. 2:9, Ps. 19).
The Dispensation of Conscience: Starts at the fall and is revealed in Genesis chapter three. The dispensation runs through chapter eight of Genesis and lasts in history for nearly 1,200 years from creation. It shows us the evil depravity of humanity’s existence apart from God, and it reveals humanity’s desperate need for Jesus Christ and His salvation. The dispensation also reveals the operation of conscience within humans.
Each Dispensation reveals the total depravity, and failure of the human spirit. Our human spirit by itself cannot direct us into holy living, nor can it allow us to obtain forgiveness because it has been contaminated and defiled (Rom. 3:9-26, 6:23, Gal. 5:16-21, 1 Cor. 1:17-31, Eph. 2:1-10).
It is important to note that humans are tripartite beings. Meaning we are comprised of body, soul, and spirit (1 Thess. 5:23, Heb. 4:12, Eph. 2:1-8).
Our spirit died, when Adam and Eve sinned because sin caused total depravity, and made us lose fellowship, and eternal life. We could no longer regain personal fellowship, and eternal life on our own. Change, could only be accomplished by God, through the Gospel of the LORD Jesus Christ's accomplishments. He changes our spirit.
This is evidenced when it is stated that whoever receives His sacrifice of forgiveness, regains a relationship with Him (Jn. 1:12, Rom. 10:9-13, Eph. 1:7, 13-14).
Today, salvation, that is a transformed spirit, comes from God’s mercy and grace alone. He provided it in Christ Jesus. In this matter it is important to understand the difference between mercy and grace.
Mercy: God is not giving one what one deserves.
Grace: God is giving one what one does not deserve or what one is incapable of achieving through his or her own efforts.
Faith and fear work together to bring one to salvation. The opposite of fear is obedience. This is obedience to the revelation, which God gives through the Scriptures, which is the only eternal answer for peace.
Fear is within a person’s heart and conscience (1 Jn. 4:18, 19, Lk. 1:50, Rom. 11:20, Phil. 2:12, 2 Cor. 7:1-5). Yet, Scripture reveals His perfect love, which takes away the fear of death.
The Dispensation of Human Government, started with the events surrounding the building of the Ark by Noah in Genesis 6:9. It runs through Genesis 11:11-26. There are a few detailed events revealed from creation to the end of this Dispensation.
This Dispensation is significant because it reveals governmental rule by humanity. Governments were instituted first in this Dispensation to put a check and balance on human behavior.
It is important to note however, that government cannot atone for humanity’s depravity. Government can bring about good, but it cannot save. Nevertheless, it is meant to bring about good according to God’s Word, and His Absolute Universal Truths. The Dispensation of Human Government lasted somewhere between 1,900 and 2,000 years from creation.
This dispensation operation reveals that human government cannot give or convey the right relationship to God apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. Government cannot dictate one’s relationship to God. It cannot properly teach worship or present, prescribe, or dictate an eternal relationship with God.
God instituted the concept of government in this dispensation simply to provide checks and balances on humanity. Yet, throughout the world, these checks and balances are diverse in the application of checks and balances. Their sole commonality is the promotion of good and putting down of evil (Rom. 13).
Sins led up to the final failure with the building of the Tower of Babel. This Dispensation plan resulted in the changing of languages; it put a check and balance on behavior with the scattering of humanity into different areas of the world. Possibly, races and the changing of body features occurred ending the Dispensation that was part of the Irreversible Punitive Judgment.
The Dispensation of Promise, started with the choosing of Abraham (Gen. 11:26). The dispensation operation spans somewhere around 2,000 years. There are many details and examples for believers in this Dispensation.
This Dispensation revealed the importance of responsible living by the elect of God in holiness, righteousness, and justice. These were necessary for this Dispensation according to the foreordained plan of God.
The Dispensation provides many prophecies, and the history of the human lineage of Jesus Christ through a chosen nation (Israel) was established.
The Mosaic Law shows that God’s plan was to be exercised through types given in worship, working eternal atonement by its laws and faith (Rom. 4:1-8). The dispensation operation ends after the crucifixion and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, ending with the rejection of God the Holy Spirit in Acts 7 (2 Tim. 3:16, 1 Cor. 10:1, 6, 11).
The Dispensation of Grace, (Equality Today): Starts at the end of Acts 7:54. This dispensation operates for believers up until the Rapture (1 Thess. 4:13-18). Consequently, all nonbelievers will go into the tribulation judgment. They will die in the Irreversible Punitive Judgment during the tribulation period ending at the Battle of Armageddon.
Thirteen of the New Testament books were written for this Dispensation, and the Apostle Paul authors its operation. He also may have written fourteen.
His Epistles gave the specific rules of its administration (Romans through Titus and maybe Hebrew).
The Dispensation Today: Has been in existence since the stoning of Stephen, Acts 7 around AD 34. This Dispensation reveals the full scope of the Gospel to all humanity. It explains and expounds the fullness of grace offered to the whole world (Rom. 1- 5).
John 1:16-17: “And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.”
Note: “Grace for grace” is expressed in some translation as “grace upon grace” meaning “There is no limit to the supply of grace,” or to “the fullness of His grace.”
Note 2: The biblical meaning of grace is a gift from our Heavenly Father given through His Son, Jesus Christ. The word grace, as used in the scriptures, refers primarily to His enabling power and spiritual healing offered through His mercy and love. No one can enter the presence of God without divine grace (Rom. 5:5-9).
Biblical grace is not the same as the secular meaning for grace, which is simple elegance or refinement of movement, and courteous goodwill and honor and credit to (someone or something) by one’s presence. The biblical meaning of grace is much deeper. It is eternal, and needs to be considered in a mighty way!
According to Koine Greek in Western Christian theology, grace is "the love and mercy given to us by God because God desires us to have it, not necessarily because of anything we have done to earn it." It is not a created substance of any kind but an attribute of God that is manifest in His salvation for sinners (From Wikipedia).
According to the Koine Greek in the English New Testament, the word “grace” is always a translation of χαρις (charis), a term that occurs in the Greek text over 170 times. The New Testament writing was Koine Greek, which Jews commonly spoke during this time in history.
The word ‘grace’ literally means ‘favor.’ In Hebrew, it is CHEN, which is from the root word CHANAN. The meaning is to bend, or stoop in kindness to another, as a superior to an inferior (Strong’s concordance, 2603).
The Dispensation of Equality: Is for all Jews, as well as Gentiles regardless of color, race, or sex. All are responsible for the outreach of the testimony from the stewards.
This comes in the form of reaching others with the Gospel message of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 5:13-21). This Dispensation has other names including, the Church Age, the Dispensation of Grace, the Body of Christ, and the Mystery Dispensation.
Mystery Dispensation holds that this revelation was not given as prophecy; rather it was a hidden Dispensation before the world began. (1 Cor. 15:9, Eph. 3:1-20, 1 Cor. 12:27).
Consider that the verses that say the mystery mean hidden before the world began. This hidden opportunity is more than just a mystery or secret not revealed and hidden from prophecy.
Ephesians 3:9 states that "from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God."
Colossians 1:26, "the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations."
Romans 1:25, "according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began."
The question then is what is the mystery? The mystery is equality of benefit; the opportunity is equality with Israel. The Gospel is now for all, the approach and salvation is given on a fully equal basis, it is not exclusive, but instead it is the gift of God given equally to all who will receive His grace (Jn. 1:12, 17, Rom. 6:23).
Dispensation of the Kingdom: Starts with the Rapture and transitions through the preparation time for the Nation of Israel. It brings the return of Messiah Jesus, including His ruler-ship on earth. His return will be at the Battle of Armageddon, which ends the tribulation period.
He will take the throne of David and will rule on the planet for 1,000 years. Revelation chapter one through twenty documents this timetable and its completion.
This thousand-year Dispensation reveals that, even while under the perfect absolute rule of God the Son, humanity will still turn to its own ways.
Humanity will still be rebellious and will refuse to turn its heart to the Savior even when under His rule.
Some humans will still follow Satan and in so doing will stand in direct opposition to Christ Jesus and His Kingdom.
This Dispensation ends with the battle called Gog and Magog (Ez. 38:2-6, 39, Rev. 20:7-20. After the battle, the Great White Throne Judgment takes place, followed by the completion of the New Heaven and Earth being established (Rev. 20-11 - Rev. 21, Ez. 38:2-6, 39).
The Dispensation of the Fullness of Time, Eph 1:10: The transition starts with Satan’s release from the Bottomless Pit and continues through the Battle of Gog and Magog.
Revelation 20:7-20, through chapter 22, reveals this transition into eternity. It ends with the Great White Throne Judgment and the New Heaven and Earth.
Almighty LORD Jesus Christ is the commander in chief of the battle and is the judge of the court at the Great White Throne Judgment. The LORD Jesus Christ then turns the Kingdom over to the Godhead’s authority to God the Father for eternity.
1 Corinthians 15:24: “Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.”
Now that we have learned about the Seven Major Dispensations, let us turn our attention to the rules pertaining to each.
On pg. 14
The Seven Fundamental Operational Guiding Rules of a Major Dispensation
1. Universal Absolute Truths are the rules that never change. They contain the worldwide universal truths of God.
2. Carryover Laws and Modified Rules: They become part of the new dispensational operating rules.
3. Rules of Operation that are New are those not given in preceding Dispensations.
4. Institution of Stewards: God ordained those that are responsible for the Dispensation operation.
5. Humanity’s Failure: Begins the changing of the Dispensation.
6. Transition is the operation between Dispensations, starting at the failure within a Dispensation. The old Dispensation decreases, and the new one increases until it takes full control.
7. Irreversible Punitive Judgment is the final judgment on the Dispensation that failed. Once they begin, they are irreversible to the old Dispensation.
See the chart at the end of this chapter:
Take time now and study the enclosed diagram chart that follows. The diagram depicts eternity past to eternity future by the extra-large greater-signs, representing the past before the world's creation (eternity past).
This sign points through the history of humanity here on earth and looks through the Seven Major Dispensations ">" (the historical dispensations). The second greater-sign at the end of the chart points to eternity, ">" leading into eternity future, this Dispensation is a never-ending Dispensation.
The Bible reveals dispensational teaching from the book of Genesis through Revelation.
Dispensations are the works of the Godhead. Also, the Biblical revelation of the second Person of the Trinity (Jesus Christ the LORD) has been revealed through them. He is the mediator between God and humanity. This truth appears throughout each Dispensation within scripture.
The broken and solid red line on the chart represents the Redemptive Covenant with progression, showing fulfillment accomplished through our Lord Jesus Christ. However, remember as you study the Bible that covenants are not dispensations and dispensations are not covenants!
The solid red line on the chart starts back in eternity past. It begins breaking at the point of the sin by Adam and Eve, at which time sin entered this world.
The broken line on the chart represents the time when man needed an offering of an animal to cover his sin. The required blood sacrifice was in effect until the finished work of Jesus Christ was complete for the forgiveness of sin and the sinner. The red line represents the progressive historical implementation of the Redemptive Covenant. This was completed with the works of Christ Jesus for eternity.
The chart’s rectangles show the order and occurrence of the Major Seven Dispensations. Names of each Dispensation appear on the bottom of the rectangles. They have corresponding numbers from one to seven showing their order.
Below each title are details within the dispensation’s operation. On the far right, the chart reveals where people will spend eternity. Eternity will be either heaven or the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:15). For those who have received God’s provision for salvation there is heaven, whereas for those who have rejected His provision, there is the Lake of Fire (Rom. 10:9-13, Jn. 1:12, 1 Jn. 5:9-14, 1 Pet. 1:3-5, Jn. 3:18-21, and Rom. 3:23, 6:23).
Today’s Dispensation was a hidden Mystery Dispensation, hid in God from the Dispensation of Promise. It was not included in prophecies or revealed in full until the Pauline Epistles, and this Dispensation overlays the program with Israel until the Rapture (Eph. 3:1- 9, Rom. 16:25, Col. 1:25-26, Gal. 1:11-12).
The longsuffering of God ends because of His stewards and humanity’s failure (Rom. 2:4, Rom. 11, 1 Tim. 4:1-11, 2 Tim. 3:1-7). It is important to remember that gentile salvation is not the mystery but the equality in the Dispensation of Grace.
The Major Designations and Names Given to Dispensations
Dispensationalists gave names to Dispensations. Each name shows a Major aspect that identifies God’s plan for the Dispensation. The word used in the title is a description of a particular truth about that dispensation’s operation. A distinctive description is visible from the beginning of the specific truth, and from the detailed facts operating in the Dispensation.
The Dispensation of Innocence: Designates that man was innocent before sin and death. (Gen. 1:2, 2:15-17, 25, Rom. 5:12-21).
The Dispensation of Conscience: Demonstrates when conscience began to work. This took place in transition right after Adam and Eve sinned. The name reflects the working of the conscience.
Conscience has continued to operate within every person ever since. In fact, it is the primary way of knowing the difference between good and evil. Adam and Eve felt evil from their conscience for it became alive, convicting them of good and evil (Gen. 3:6-11, 4:4-7, 24-34, 6:5). The Holy Spirit strives with the conscience convicting humans (Gen. 6:3).
The Dispensation of Human Government: God gave Noah the dispensational operating rules for this new Dispensation (Gen. 9:1-11) and the covenant of the rainbow (Gen 9:12-17). Commissioned by God and given the responsibility to govern in a fallen world because of their sin (Rom. 8:18-22).
God gave man-governing responsibility to make decisions that affect the affairs of humanity within the operating dispensation.
Humans were to operate in holiness, righteousness, and justice and were given the authority of punitive judgment. This institution is seen through the remaining dispensations with additional new rules in each future dispensation (Gen. 4:9-16, 6:9-11, Ex 20:1-17, Lev.1-27, Deut. 17:1-18, Rom. 13, 1 Pet. 2:13-5).
Governments work in cooperation with conscience and puts a “check and balance” on humanity’s behavior.
The Dispensation of Promise: Started with Abram’s calling, He and his descendants received a unique promise and were to set up a kingdom nation (Deut. 17:14-20). Our Savior was also designated to come through Abram’s offspring.
Abram’s offspring (the Seed was the fulfilment of Gen 3:15, the fulfilment of the Redemptive Covenant, Gen 21:12, 22:18, 26:4, 28:14, 1 Chr.17:11, Ps.89:4, 36, Is. 53, Lk. 1:55, Jn. 7:41-42, Ac. 3:25, Gal. 3:16, 1 Jn 3:9).
The covenant was fulfilled in the incarnation of the LORD Jesus Christ, which was through Abram’s offspring dispensationally (Gen. 12:1-3, 13:14-17, 15:1-21, 17:1-27, Matt. 1:21, Gal. 3:15-18).
The preeminent Savior's birth (God's incarnation) came through Mary, a virgin. Mary was a descendent of Abraham's offspring and was given to Abraham as one of the promises God made to him (Matt. 1:18, 23, Gal. 3:16, Jn, 1:1, 12-14). Note that Abram's name changed to Abraham in Genesis 17:5.
This dispensation begins with Abraham. It runs then until the end of Acts 7 with the stoning of Stephan, which begins the dispensation of Grace in transition.
The Dispensation of Grace: This name comes from the Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Ephesians (Eph. 3:2 KJV). It describes the grace of equality offered to all people.
This dispensation works to form the Body of Christ, the new entity (organism) of Jews and Gentiles as equals (Eph. 1:11-14, 2:15, Acts 7-13 cf., Eph. 3:1-9). The Equality Dispensation was a mystery not before prophesied or revealed.
Note: The mystery was not the salvation of Gentiles rather it was equality. In this Dispensation, all can approach God as equals through the Lord’s work.
When the Nation of Israel received the stewardship, they rejected it, and in doing so, rejected the New Covenant. As a result of their failure, God in His Mystery Dispensational program, revealed today’s Dispensation to save all (Acts 13:46-48, 18:4-6, 28:23-31, Rom. 16:25-27, Eph. 3:1-13, Col. 1:25-27).
The Dispensation of the Kingdom: Jesus Christ will rule sitting on the throne of David. He will rule the earth from Jerusalem. (1 Sam. 12:12, 2 Sam. 7:11-16, 22-26, 2 Chron. 7:14-18, Ps. 2:1-12, 110:1-7, Is. 9:6-7, Rev. 19:6).
The Dispensation of the Fullness of Time: Its wording comes from the original Greek text of Ephesians 1:10. In the Dispensation everything in God’s eternal Kingdom reaches completion, redemption is completed, experienced, and now has no eternal end. The new heaven and new earth will be infinite (Ps. 103:19-22, Rev. 21:1-8, 22:1-21, 1 Cor. 15:24-28).
Ephesians 1:10: “That in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth, in Him.”
PDF Chart 01- The Seven Dispensations
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On pg. 22
Chapter 2
Dispensations are vital; they are especially relevant to building a strong foundation of Biblical knowledge. When we understand them better, we understand God better. They will strengthen our foundation, seeing the operation behind the faith God gave us when we believed.
Dispensational knowledge strengthens our faith as it cultivates Godly wisdom in our lives. Dispensations also provide a comprehensive and knowledgeable understanding of God’s entire plan. They allow us to see the working of God throughout history and eternity.
Dispensational teaching provides us with the building blocks necessary to understand God’s grand design, and plan from the master builder and the foundation that is Christ, Jesus our LORD.
Our salvation becomes more concrete as we see the full plan that God accomplished for us. We can understand, and be intrigued by His plan. We can also sit back in awe of His great love for us and marvel at the extent that He went through to save and sustain humanity.
His love should motivate us to understand the principles of holy, practical, and righteous living. When we study Dispensations, we add the building blocks to our faith becoming more healthy, secure, and profitable. Providing reasonability to faith and encouraging trust, as God the Holy Spirit opens our understanding.
Today there is an unstable approach in studying Scripture. Being unbalance leads to Christendom errors, and frequently confusing.
A correct approach is hopeful; this truth will enlighten the Word of God to all. Those who personally study doctrine, prophecy, and theology to discover the stabilizing fact found, need this study. Coming from an accurate scriptural dispensational methodology is significant for understanding.
A dispensational approach gives unity. It establishes an intense devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ and Scripture, and providing the foundation necessary to scriptural understanding that will open a person’s eyes to the truth.
Corinthians 3:10-11: “According to the grace of God which was given to me (Apostle Paul), as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it, (You and I). But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
We need correct expounding of truth today more than ever before. Along with our need for accuracy in teaching and writing, we are also in great need of living in truth in today’s world.
The whole aim of Scripture is salvation for humans. Scripture is there for our learning. There are numerous examples and eternal principles given throughout the Bible to help us live correct lives. A dispensational approach helps us to do just that (2 Tim. 3:16, Rom. 15:4, 2 Tim. 2:15, Eph. 3:2-4, Rom. 16:24-26, Col. 1:24-26, John 3:16).
While correct study leads to correct living, the converse is also true as incorrect scriptural application in our lives leads to a multitude of errors. These errors manifest themselves in sinful living. For example:
If you find yourself in the above actions and you want to be transformation, desiring now to change, great. All you need now is agreement with God that you are a sinner and need conversion of your soul. Ask Jesus to be your personal Lord believing the record God gave for your salvation.
Place all of your belief and faith on the record God gave in His word. Read 1 John 5:9-14, Romans 10:9-13, John 1:12 and 3:16. Simply talk to the Lord and express your need and desire for Him.
Romans 10:13: “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
The enclosed charts will help you comprehend the schematic and symmetry of God’s Word as you study this subject. God will open your eyes and will answer any ongoing longing questions that your soul may have.
Study so you can experience the excitement of God’s Word for yourself. It is an excitement, which you have never known and to which nothing can compare!
Finally, dispensations give answers to life’s most fundamental questions. The Bible’s clarity allows us to make sense out of this life, giving hope. In turn, as we study dispensations, we will grow deeper in our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. A deeper relationship with Jesus is entirely possible when we embrace the symmetry of the Bible.
This study is for everyone from professional theologians, pastors to lay believers, men and women and everyone. It is meant first, and foremost, to provide spiritual growth and understanding (Eph. 4:11-25, 2 Tim. 2:2, 3:14-16, 2 Tim. 2:14-16).
There is scriptural validation for a dispensational approach and understanding of the Bible. Enlightenment occurs when seeking inspiration from God the Holy Spirit. He has spoken through the inspiration of humans. Scriptural accounts are not finite human inventions, but God’s plan of authorship for humanity (II Peter 1:19-21).
On pg. 26
Humanity’s Personal Relationship to God as Anticipated by God
Here as we study dispensations, we can clearly see God at work through His plan of salvation. Salvation was God’s plan through our Lord Jesus. God always planned to provide the means for humanity’s salvation.
Each Dispensation reveals His workings and expresses our need for His intervention. We must personally accept God’s provision through the means of faith and obedience (Hab. 2:4, Rom. 1:16-17, Gal. 3:11, Heb. 10:38).
Studying the dispensation’s operations will reveal the mediating of our Lord Jesus Christ. This includes His plan before the cross, or the First Stage (Yahweh), and Second Stage (Yahweh incarnate) after the cross, where He seeks to save the lost.
For example, in the first stage Adam and Eve could have eaten freely from the Tree of Life that God provided, but instead, they chose to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.
We read that after they sinned, they covered their nakedness with leaves. Covering themselves represents their religious works. Their religion was not of perfect blood. Therefore, it was non-sufficient to change their sinful circumstances.
Their covering, just like human religion today, could never pay the price required for their sins. Today we are just like them trying to cover our sin and evil through all kinds of means.
However, the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ is the only atonement for our sins.
A perfect, sinless sacrificial offering by God was the only capable atonement, non-other could have been offered. Adam and Eve defiled humanity when they sinned, and they became incapable of attaining and providing forgiveness for their sins (Rom. 5). They could not cover the defilement that now is inherent in humanity.
At that time, God offered the first atonement, in that He provided a temporary covering until the finished works of our LORD Jesus Christ, which would forgive all sins. The particular atonement was the animal sacrifices that were practiced according to the operating dispensation’s requirements (Heb. 9:22).
From that time until the completed work of our Lord, God imputed righteousness on the bases of the sacrifices that He ordained and provided to those who waited in faith for the finished work of Jesus (Rom. 4, Heb. 9, 11).
After Adam and Eve sinned, Yahweh God covered them by an animal blood sacrifice, providing salvation for them (Gen. 3:21, Heb. 9). This continuous provision was a substitutionary sacrifice for sin, until the once forever offering that Jesus Christ provided.
Adam and Eve put aside their own covering of leaves that they had made, and they let God clothe them with the skins He provided (Gen. 3:21). The blood sacrifice that God gave for their atonement was sufficient and pointed to the future time of the incarnation.
Adam and Eve accepted His covering, showing faith and repentance on their part. Have you received salvation by taking God’s provision in the LORD Jesus Christ as your very own? Are you clothed spiritually with Jesus (Jn. 1:12, Is. 1:18, Ps. 103)?
God planned, and provided the offering needed for the covering of sin. Adam and Eve willingly accepted the sufficient sacrifice that He provided, which met the justice required for a sin offering. The result was transformation (Gen. 3, Heb. 9:22, Eph. 1:5-7). Today accepting God the Son, the Lord Jesus, provides the blood sacrifice required to remove an individual’s sins. It opens the gate to forgiveness (Eph. 1:7, 1 Jn. 2:1-3, 5:9-14). This is the aforementioned second stage of the Redemptive Covenant.
This first and second Dispensation reveals and records these four facts:
God planned and completed an atonement for humanity that runs throughout history (Heb. 1:1-4). The Redemptive Covenant, it runs through each dispensation’s operation.
Today no religion or human works can ever give a covering for personal sin. This is because it requires the provision that only God could and did provide in Christ Jesus.
However, many today are still trying to get to God through their own effort. Not only is their twisting of the truth futile, it is also unacceptable.
No human endeavor can take away and forgive inherited (original) or committed sin. The eternal inherited contamination of a person results in everlasting punishment, outside of Jesus Christ. No effort on our part can make us acceptable; humanity’s works or religion cannot provide the just requirement necessary for redemption.
Apart from Christ Jesus, no one can gain forgiveness for present or future sins in which one inherited. Only in the Lord Jesus Christ is deliverance possible! Salvation is the perfect payment that only the Lord Jesus Christ could provide (Heb. 4:15, 2 Cor. 5:21).
Man-centered knowledge and book learning can never save apart from God’s Word (Jn. 1:12-14). Transformation can only come from God, for it is a gift from Him (Eccl. 12, Rom. 3:23.).
There is only one-way of salvation that grants forgiveness. It transforms us from a state of degradation and depravity to a state of spiritual rebirth (Jn. 3, 4:24, Heb. 4:12). This salvation comes not from anything we do, but only from what God did (1 Jn. 5:9-14).
He did it through His incarnation in the Lord Jesus Christ. He came here to Earth to provide what humans could not provide for themselves by meeting the just payment required for all sin (Rom. 5, Eph. 1:7).
God, the Lord Jesus Christ, made the blood sacrifice needed to forgive. He thus reconciles (resolves) and gives peace in our relationship with God for all eternity. Sons and daughters of God also receive the assurance of an eternal family.
Transformation occurs personally when an individual accepts Jesus as LORD and Savior (Jn. 1:12-14, Rom. 10:9-13, 1 Jn. 5:9-14). Transformed sons and daughters, adopted next to the Son of God. They are saints by His redeeming provision!
Adam and Eve were unworthy to receive His forgiveness, just as we are today. Yet God, in His love, mercy, and grace, planned the provision necessary to save us. God provided the only means of transformation and forgiveness through the incarnation, the cross, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
There was a time in life when I could not understand how God could ever forgive my sinfulness. I seemed to fail all the time in finding victory over sin. One time, a pastor asked me how much of the Bible I was reading and studying and how often. Admittedly, I knew much of what the Bible said, but I did not read or study it daily (Psalms 119:9-12).
He advised to change the wording in the verses to first person. He also recommended that I change the wording in the text from where the third person appeared, instead of just reading the passages as a generic thought, he said I should put it in first person.
He also advised that I model my life around the positive attributes of a Christian man, and that I in turn stop focusing only on the negative sides or failures.
I applied my name to the words, and they started to change my life. I also read repeatedly the verses, over, and over again until I knew them. Sometimes I would read a verse or passage fifty times and in doing so, the verses started to become a part of me. The truths changed my subconscious as well as my conscious in this way, I am seventy-six years old, and I still use these disciplines to be more Christ-like!
I applied this method of study in the area of my weaknesses, as I read myself personally in the passages, and the Holy Spirit started to change my life supernaturally.
Those around me noticed the difference long before I even knew it was happening.
Therefore, it’s not about how many passages you read, it’s about relating them to your own personal problems. This will change your life.
I looked for truths that were not only my own weaknesses in the flesh, but I also filled my learning with those that were the opposite, which resulted in a positive change in my life. Here is an example of that technique:
1 John 1:8-10: “If (Ted) says that (he) has no sin, (he) deceives (himself), and the truth is not in (Ted). If (Ted) confesses (his) sins, He is faithful and just to forgive (Ted) of (his) sins and to cleanse (him) from all unrighteousness. If (Ted) says that (he) has not sinned (Ted) makes Him a liar, and His Word is not in (Ted).”
John 3:16: “For God so loved (Ted) that He gave His only begotten Son, that if (Ted) believes in Him, (Jesus Christ), (Ted) would have eternal life.”
1 John 2:12: “My little child (Ted), these things I write to (Ted), so that (Ted) may not sin. And if (Ted) sins, (Ted) has an Advocate (One who speaks) with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He, Himself (the LORD Jesus Christ) is the propitiation (the one who provided forgiveness) for (Ted’s) sins, and not for (Ted) only but also for the whole world.”
His way of forgiveness was planned and provided by God and completed in the finished work that He provided through the mediator the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Jn. 5:9-14, Rom. 10:9-13, Acts 4:10-12, 1 Cor. 15:1-4).
Those who take responsibility on a personal basis for their inheritance of defilement will receive forgiveness. A person who admits they possess a sinful nature and who makes an appropriate confession by receiving the Lord Jesus Christ by faith will receive forgiveness.
Personal admission brings repentance, and with it, we become children of redemption. The person who accepts responsibility will find change, peace, and a cleansed conscience (Rom. 8:28-30, 10:9-13, Tit. 3:5, Eph. 2:5-9, Heb. 9:14, 10:19-25, 11:6, 2 Tim. 2:11-13, Ps. 103). Having joy, and hope within is the need of all, and it is only found in the LORD Jesus (Gal. 5:22-26, Rom 5:2-4, 15:4, 13, Eph. 4:4, Titus 1:2, Heb. 6:19, 1 Pet. 1:3).
Today, without Jesus, one cannot provide the means for forgiveness. Receiving forgiveness is not in our own ability. Men and women perish due to their refusal of Jesus and from their prideful efforts to be their own god. They choose human-made religion, and works, instead of God’s eternal way through the mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ (Jn. 3:16-21, Ac. 4:12).
Salvation appears in each dispensation. Dispensations show the truths of how salvation has been at work since creation. In fact, it has been working throughout the history of humanity.
Remember, God planned and placed redemption into place before creation and the dispensations. The implementation of His plan runs throughout the dispensational history of humankind. God foreknew the inability and failure of humanity and brought redemption for forgiveness (Eph. 1:1-6, 1 Pet. 1:20).
Today if salvation has occurred in your life, you can live an abundant life. God wants all to find security through the study of His Word. This is accomplished when we discover Him in His Word, and the truth in His creation (2 Cor. 5:17-21).
God’s perfect love should drive the lost to Him and should cause the redeemed to have a desire to know all there is about their eternal salvation. Knowing His ways and works brings pleasure to God (2 Cor. 5:14, 1 Cor. 1:21, 1 Thess. 4:1-12, Heb. 11:5-6, 13:16).
Within God’s foreknowledge, He predestined (predetermined) and called us, and by the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ He justified us and in our response to Him He elevated us to our position now and forevermore (Rom. 8:12, 29-30, Jn. 17, 1 Jn. 4).
As the redeemed, we have a responsibility, living life set apart from the world’s ungodliness. This does not however mean that we are to isolate ourselves from the world. Rather, we must continually give our testimony through our actions and through words of godliness as we share the truths of God. We are to live as sanctified ambassadors (2 Tim. 2:15, Heb. 11:6, Jas. 4:8, Rom. 12:1-2, 1 Cor. 5:9-11, 2 Cor. 5:13-22).
God blesses all those who know Him. When one commits to know Him personally, he or she discovers the distinctiveness of being known fully and completely. An eternal relationship starts when we commit to Him. Our growth only beings when we realize our need to study the source of His revelation found in His Words. Therefore, the Holy Bible becomes our essential priority and new reality.
Children of God should know how to discover the truths in the Scriptures. These truths bring clarity to our deportment, studies, teaching, and preaching of God’s works on His behalf (Heb. 5:11, 6:1-2, 2 Tim. 3:16-17, Rom. 15:4).
In fact, Dispensational Theology is significant because of our commission. Dispensational Theology, coupled with Practical Theology and the other studies of Systematic Theology, produces a mature and complete approach to God beyond salvation.
The word Theology is not complicated; it simply means the study or teachings of God. However, there are a few other variations of theology for you to consider.
Practical Theology is making the study of God useful through application. Most preaching today is practical to everyday life.
Systematic Theology is the arranging of the vital truths of the Bible so that they form a complete study. For example, the doctrines of God, Christ Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Bible, Salvation, Humanity, Sin, Angels, the Church, the end Times, Dispensations and other grand themes of scripture are commonly employed in systematic theology.
On pg. 34
Modern Confusion Regarding Scripture
When I was young, I observed my mother's Bible. I realized there were certain parts of the Word of God she would often read. She read them more than other areas, and as a result, she could not see the unity and symmetry of Scripture.
At the time, I wondered why she did not read or study the whole Bible. I discovered that she read and studied certain areas because she understood them better.
These areas served as practical devotions of strength for her and were thus more relevant to her life than other areas of Scripture.
At the time, I did not realize that she did not have a full understanding of the symmetry of the totality of Scripture. She lacked the unity of God's complete works through the dispensations, and she lacked an understanding of how they applied to life today.
I am very thankful that she worked at studying them as best she knew. I wanted to help her understand more but sadly, I ran into a problem. She would run to and look at commentaries for answers instead of treating the Bible as a book that would ultimately answer her questions.
The Word gives clarity and symmetry and all the more so when dispensations are understood. She could have understood directly by asking God the Holy Spirit to open her eyes to Biblical truth.
God says if anyone asks for wisdom, He will give it to them (Jas. 1:5, 1 Jn. 2:27, Jn. 14:26). Commentaries are helpful, but they are not the Word of God. Many of them approach Scripture with the same misunderstanding of dispensations. Dispensations are a unifying operational system created by God.
Understanding dispensations is not optional. Dispensational understanding for a believer is paramount. Dispensational learning gives clarity to understanding the systematic framework of God.
God’s designed structure has been present since the beginning of time. Total accuracy is vitally essential in Biblical studies. As such, not only in word studies relating to practical living, but also in other Biblical Theological aspects as well. The Bible is critical for understanding and stability in one’s faith.
Dispensational teaching and learning give the paramount view of the workings of God. A paramount look throughout Biblical history as recorded from the beginning of creation and extending into the eternal end of all things does show the totality of God’s workings.
Every individual Dispensation viewed along with the rest of the Dispensations reveals the entire symmetrical plan of God and it is supremely rewarding when we discover the whole splendor of God’s plan of redemption.
A Dispensational study should never be the end of one’s knowledge of God’s Word. Do not let rebellion, stagnation, complacency, ignorance, or contentment, prematurely end your study!
When "much is given, much is expected." Today’s generation, more than any before it "has been given much from God” and judgment awaits for what God has given! (Rom. 14:10, Rev. 20:11-15, Ps. 1).
Final contentment should not be our only aim from knowing God’s Word, rather we must enjoy the entire learning process. Moreover, we need to examine God’s Word when someone points us to additional truths, and recognize when we might have been misinformed.
Without a full understanding, we will never be able to agree with others. We must never dismiss another’s view either without having a full understanding of the view held, for that is not wise.
Remember the Bible is God’s infallible Word, inspired by the Holy Spirit; there is always more to the Word to learn. In His transcendent nature and holiness, God revealed the truth of His works to humanity in the Bible (2 Pet. 1:19-21).
The study of dispensations teaches the revelations of God and His entering into the world, including His ordaining and providing an orderly economy with leadership to bring about His glory (Eph. 3).
God is outside the material universe and not limited by His creation. God in love planned and entered this world. He took on human flesh to provide salvation. He participated with humanity in their needs and values without sin.
He holds all things together and records the righteousness, justice, and holiness of humanity (Rom. 5:5-9, Jn. 3:16, 1 Jn. 5:9-14, James 1:1,14, Phil. 1:5-11). How awesome and beautiful is God and His loving deeds for humanity! (Ps. 105:1).
Therefore, in this study of dispensations, seeking an accurate understanding is essential. It goes along with a good and necessary knowledge of Scriptural truth as well. Acquiring explicit knowledge of a brother or sister’s position is also wise and it shows respect of the Lord. We are respectful to others when we enable them to speak to comprehend their scriptural understanding better and when we encourage them to see errors in their thinking.
Many today have not discovered the beauty and harmony dispensational truths give to Biblical understanding. This is due to an incorrect “milk toast” approach (or “a pick and choose”) interpretation of Scripture, which results in producing confusion and is hampered by the readers preconceived ideas (Heb. 5:12-14, 6:1).
However, knowing the Seven Keys of the Operating System of dispensations will help give and keep a solid foundation when studying the Word of God. Just as there are Seven Major Dispensations, there are Seven Guiding Operational Rules within each dispensation’s operating. Researching and knowing these Guiding Rules for each Dispensation produces an understanding of God’s plan and works. Discovering how God in every dispensation has used these rules of operation, in the same orderly ways in each, and how He has brought them into action when humanity fails enlightens our understanding.
Using the milk toast approach to Scripture will never get one beyond salvation. In fact, the approach has caused many people to do only a superficial study in the Word of God. Besides, it misses the foundation of Biblical truth totally. The milk toast approach caters to feelings over facts. It is dangerous because spiritualization is often faulty.
Practical Christian living and emotions are meaningful, but one should never take practical living as the deciding metric of knowing God’s Word. There is a foundation of knowing God’s total plan better, which provides a more substantial practical outward assurance (Ps. 119:9-13).
Are believers subject to Satan and the cults? Yes, believers are, if they are not rooted in their knowledge and maturity in the Scripture. In addition, they are subject to error, this is why according to Scripture they need to be rooted in truth (2 Cor. 4:3-5, 1 Jn. 4:1-6, 2 Cor. 11:13-15). The milk toast approach leaves us vulnerable and unaware of the wrong teachings of men and their traditions (Heb. 5:11-16; 6:1-3, Eph. 4:14).
A person should never validate their personal wrong beliefs by taking Scripture out of context or by following non-biblical teaching and preaching. Everyone has a responsibility to seek the truth of God’s Holy Word found in the Bible.
God blesses knowledgeable individuals when they seek His divine revelation and encouragement. One cannot conclude there is no God if they do not know Him, and nothing takes precedence over God’s Word.
Many believers have not followed proper exegesis or interpretation in their discovery of God’s dispensational truths throughout history. This has caused confusion, and error.
Covenant Theological points of view seek to unify the Bible on covenants only, or the Covenant of Redemption. Others focus on Scripture as having only one dispensation instead of seeing the unique Seven Major Dispensations as revealed in God’s total program.
Others still mix a dispensational view with a covenant approach in God’s working out of His plan. Still, others have combined their dispensational position with the Covenant Theological view instead of keeping with the dispensations and the covenants as two distinct entities.
Some who espouse dispensations have no consistent Guiding Operating Principles or Operational Guidelines. The correct system of a dispensational approach with the Guiding Operational Keys in the study of Dispensations shows how to understand the distinctions and clears up any mistakes of interpretation.
Some teachers espouse fewer Dispensations, and some espouse more than the seven (see chapter 12 for information about fewer and subordinate dispensations).
Knowing the Seven Keys of the Operating System, which God ordained, and where and how one needs to adjust one’s teachings, delivers one from error (chapters 6-11 explain the Keys of the Operating System of the Seven Major Dispensations).
A Dispensation is not a covenant, and a bond covenant is not a Dispensation; however, both have a place in understanding the total of God's working. Seven Guiding Operational Principles make up each Major Dispensation, where unique principles within the covenant manage the covenant.
A dispensation carries out or brings a covenant forward to completion or in a future Dispensation. A promised covenant has operating rules given within the covenant, and new commands and regulations of a dispensation do not change the covenant (Gal. 3:15-19). The dispensation is where a designed covenant by God works out of its own original structure for completion.
For example, the Mosaic Laws, added laws to the Dispensation of Promise, but the covenants themselves remained the same (Gal. 3:19), these administrating rules, carrying the covenants forward. The Dispensations Operating Principles, two and three state there are modified and new rules given at the beginning or during a dispensation.
Others oppose correct Biblical learning because it is a threat to what they have always believed. This is a flesh problem resulting from our sinful nature. At times, it is also a direct attack by the enemy Satan, who tries to keep us in a state of confusion.
Instead, let us hope and pray (as Paul did for the people of Ephesus) that spiritual eyes will be opened (Eph. 1:15-16).
The challenge is to study the Scriptures to see if all the facts are present, as the Berea Jewish believers did in Acts 17:10-12. The person that studies and considers God’s Word will find new strength and understanding for their personal life; they will have an exceptional ability to apply Scripture.
The symmetrical balance of the dispensational approach helps us understand events of the past, present, and future as they relate to the working out of God’s total plan. However, knowing about dispensations does not save anyone from their sin nor does it give eternal life.
Nevertheless, it does give a clear understanding of salvation through the history of the working of God the Son. Dispensations show the progression leading up to the pre-incarnation of the LORD Jesus. They show us the history of the incarnation and its future results throughout history and into eternity. God’s works and desire in His plan in eternity past was “whosoever will, could be saved.”
Dispensations show how God brought redemption to earth for each period or economy in history, and how humanity was to express faith and obedience to His ordained rules.
Dispensations show how humanity fails in each economy and they also show the long-suffering of God working in those failures as He knew and planned for them in eternity past (see chapter nine on the failures of humanity). A failed Dispensation will have Universal Corporate sins, a Transition, and an Irreversible Punitive Judgment brought about by humanity’s failure.
On pg. 40
Definitions of a Dispensation
This definition of the term “Dispensation” is significant. It is a Biblical term used several times in Scripture. It explains God’s total plan since creation. Dispensational Theology is a discipline that should be included in Systematic Theology.
The Biblical definition of "operating dispensation" is the dispensing of the household (economy) managing rules. God manages the economy through stewards. A Dispensation continues by the success or failure of the operating economy. Time does not govern the length of a dispensation. God's long-suffering does in relationship to the failures of humanity.
Dispensation’s Definition: Why does the term need more emphasis to its definition or expansion? Simply put, the definition needs the complete expansion because there is opposition to the word. The term dispensation, many times, is misleading and not complete according to original meaning. “Dispensation” is a Biblical word.
The following are words derived from the original language along with their respective Biblical locations and ways they are to be used, defined in Strong’s Concordance:
Note: 1 Tim. 1:4, it has been translated edification in most translations, and Ephesians 1:9, fellowship rather than the Greek word dispensation. The other passages it is translated administration or dispensation.
These references are from Biblesoft’s New Exhaustive Strong’s Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary (1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators Inc.).
How Biblical Translations Define Dispensation:
A dispensation is a scriptural term used many times throughout Scripture. It is translated from the Greek words: “oikonomian,” “oikonomia,” and “oikonomias.”
The following translations translate the word.
Abbreviations: KJV - King James Version; NIV - New International Version 1984 – ESV - English Standard Version.
1. KJV, “dispensation” (Col. 1:25). NIV, “commission” ESV, “stewardship.”
2. KJV: “dispensation” (Eph. 1:10) NIV: left out of the translation. ESV, “plan.”
3. KJV: ”dispensation” (Eph. 3:2) NIV: “administration” ESV: “stewardship.”
4. KJV: “dispensation” (1 Cor. 9:17) NIV: left it out of the translation. ESV, “stewardship.”
5. KJV: “fellowship” (Eph. 3:9) NIV: “administration” ESV: “plan.”
6. KJV: “stewardship” (Lk. 16:2-4) NIV: “manage or manager” ESV: “management.”
7. Dispensation not translated correctly in KJV and NIV; the meaning is incomplete in both translations (1 Timothy 1:4) ESV: “stewardship.” It is a correct translation as “dispensation” in the ASV (American Standard Version).
8. The KJV does not translate the meaning accurately in Ephesians 3:9, but paraphrases it. It leaves an incomplete understanding of the context in its fullness.
9. 1 Tim. 1:4, it has been translated “edification” in most translations rather than the Greek word dispensation.
It is disturbing when the wrong word choice for a tremendous Biblical word is changed or omitted. "Dispensation" is the proper Biblical word that thoroughly verifies the meaning in the text. Sometimes when an inserted substitution word is used, it violates the full meaning of the translation from the original language, leading to an incorrect understanding.
Examples of possible confusion are the use of fellowship or substitution by leaving dispensation out of the text (KJV). These examples produce an incorrect or incomplete translation of the original language word. We can see that ‘dispensation’ is a Biblical word, appearing in Scripture, however when translated it would be better to use one of the following words: dispensation, administration, stewardship, manager of a household, or economy. These words would have better equivalent meanings in English.
This word dispensation should be less controversial than the word "trinity," in comparison. The actual word trinity does not appear in the Hebrew or Greek where "dispensation" does. Regardless, the truth of the "trinity" is absolute and is revealed in the Word of God.
On pg. 43
Dispensational Study is Not a Movement:
Studying dispensations is not a movement, but an applicable truth for putting the progressive working of God in the correct order throughout Biblical history. Years ago, there was strong opposition to dispensational truths. However, those who opposed did not search the Scriptures, but instead made accusations without any Scriptural foundation. Again, this is one reason to encourage all readers to look up the verses that come with this study and let the Holy Spirit verify the truths found therein!
Dispensations clarify God’s dealings with humanity, from the time He designed the plan to its implementation. Through them, He gives the parameters of how man is to execute the plan. The word “administration” is an acceptable word that is similar to the meaning of the word “dispensation.”
However, if history repeats itself, people will oppose a study of this type again. Those who oppose it often times remain set in their misunderstanding and will continue to misrepresent terms such as "Dispensationalism" or "Ultra Dispensationalism," attempting to make it a human movement. That must be rejected. Teaching Dispensational truth is not a movement, it is a fact of Scripture!
Why do they do this? It is hard to know the intent of every Christian. Most often, it comes about because of ignorance or from a refusal to change from a wrong approach that one learned in school or seminary.
In no way is the studying of dispensations (administrations) to be a movement! Instead, it is an element of clarification, completing the total truths of Scripture and history.
Understanding takes spiritual growth, and with correct evaluation of dispensational truth, one will see it does, withstand Scriptural inspection; therefore, it is Scriptural.
On pg. 44
How the Books of the Bible are Assembled:
Every Biblical arrangement helps one understand the Bible today as it is positioned together without the deliberation of the Dispensations. The books of the Bible are assembled through themes such as history, poetry, Major Prophets, Minor Prophets, Gospels, Acts (historical transition), Paul’s Epistles, General Epistles, and Revelation. It would have been hard to arrange the books and put them in Dispensational order since they individually cover multiple dispensational truth within themselves.
However, if their arrangement had been by Dispensations, they would reveal the order of workings of God through the historical Seven Major Economies (Dispensations) systematically, from their beginning through their failure and into the next dispensation.
Through this book, one will understand not just the Seven Major Dispensations, but also the Seven Operating Rules that make up the foundation of all the operations within Dispensations that reveal Christ Jesus. You will discover God’s eternal symmetrical plan of redemption that He planned from eternity past, culminating in eternity future, and found exclusively in the Bible (Eph. 2:20, 2 Tim. 2:19, Heb. 1:10, 4:3).
1 Corinthians 3:10-11, “According to the grace of God which was given to me (Apostle Paul), as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
Dispensation brings the whole Bible into continuity with the historical progression of humanity and God’s works. Therefore, it is made plain to the skeptic that all the books within the Bible have one Author who is God Himself. His writings took place over sixteen-hundred-years by forty inspired writers directed by God the Holy Spirit. The writers do not contradict each other, they all agree because of the inspiration (God-breathed revelation) of the truths of Scripture. In addition, many of the writers did not know each other personally because they lived many years apart.
Some individual books like Acts contain the teaching of two Major Dispensations in transition. The book of Acts records the transitional change ending one dispensation operating along with the progressing development of a new Dispensation in transition. Acts also covers the fulfillment of the Redemptive Covenant implemented in the Dispensation of Promise.
The book of Genesis covers creation, the implementation of the atonement, the Old Covenant, and the development, and transitions of four Dispensations. These are the Dispensation of Innocence, Dispensation of Conscience, Dispensation of Human Government, and the beginning of the transition into the Dispensation of Promise.
Note: the majority of the Bible’s context is about the Dispensation of Promise, which records the Nation of Israel spiritually, and their relationship in trusting and obedience to God.
The Bible covers Israel’s inception, hope, failures, repentance, restoration, kingdom, and God’s longsuffering, love, mercy, and grace.
However, the Apostle Paul wrote most of the books of the New Testament (13 and possibly 14). They reveal the Dispensation of Grace, called the church, the one body of Christ, and the New Organism of Equality in today’s Dispensation (Eph. 2:15).
The red letters in the Gospels have always confused individuals; they are not “red” in the original language. Why do translators hold higher regard to the words marked in red that the Lord Jesus spoke on earth? It leaves the impression that the remaining Words of God are not as important. However, all Scripture is important.
The “whole” Word (the Bible) speaks of truth spoken by God. It was written by God the Holy Spirit Who inspired men of God to write it. It is a record of humanity and God’s relationship to them, and it reveals good and bad examples for us and all subsequent generations to learn. All of Scripture is essential (vital, indispensable, crucial, necessary), including dispensational understanding and any other study of God’s Word.
2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
2 Peter 1:21, “for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
On pg. 46
The Many Prophetic Topics Covered by the Bible
The Book of Revelation is about the prophetic future. It covers the Eternal Punitive Judgment of the non-believers along with the finishing prophetic punitive event of God’s wrath on the world. The period covering the transition to the Dispensation of the Kingdom on Earth ends with the Eternal Kingdom. The Dispensation of the Fullness of Time with the New Heaven and the New Earth is then in place (Eph. 1:10).
There are prophecies in all the Biblical Dispensations that reveal the Lord Jesus, Christ the Messiah, and Savior. He is the mediator in His pre-incarnation as well as after the incarnation. Prophecies connect future events of the Messiah with the end of this world from its fallen state of existence, as we know it now.
However, the redemptive covenant was empowered and completed with God’s incarnation and was implemented in Acts 2 within the Dispensation of Promise. The Redemptive Covenant and all other promised covenants guarantees will be complete with the New Heaven and New Earth in the eternal Kingdom in the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time.
On pg. 47
The Bible has 39 Old Testament books, and 27 New Testament books categorized by the type of literature contained in the book. Below is the chronological literature order, recognized today. The word “Bible” means a collection of books. These books were compiled in categories by the following descriptions:
Old Testament Categories and Arrangement:
1. Synoptic Gospels are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
2. The Book of History is Acts.
3. Pauline Epistles: Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, and possibly Hebrews. The Apostle Paul is the Apostle to the Gentiles, the one was entrusted with the full revelation of the Mystery Dispensation; and he wrote the majority of the books of the New Testament.
4. General Epistles: Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and Jude.
5. Apocalypse is Revelation.
It would also be helpful to consider the Scriptures corresponding to the order of each Dispensation when studying.
On pg. 48
Systematic Theology Topics and Definition
Systematic Theology is the organizational study of Biblical topics. Dispensational studies’ relationship to Systematic Theology is significant. In the study of Systematic Theology, there should be a category included called “Dispensational Theology.” Remember, dispensation is the study of God’s administrations, and stewards throughout Scripture. A Dispensational-category on the Dispensations of Scripture should be a sub-category under the disciplines of Systematic Studies.
The following Systematic categories are recognized and a Dispensation should be included in the following teaching list:
I hope God will bless the study of Dispensations! May the Holy Spirit give us an understanding of Biblical Dispensational teaching and enlightenment to provide security and hope for eternity!
Dispensations clarify the truth and importance of all Scripture. Jesus Christ appears throughout all of Scripture. He is the mediator between humans and the Godhead in both the Old and New Testament.
When the word “God” is used in Scripture, it refers either to Christ Jesus, identified as Yahweh, the second person of the one triune God or Elohim referring to the triune Godhead (God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit).
When comparing the word LORD in the prophecy of the Old Testament with the book of Revelation, we find the LORD Jesus Christ. The term “LORD” refers to Christ Jesus.
For example, in Isaiah 14:3-13, the LORD is Jesus Christ, who comes back to earth in judgment, as the leader in The Battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16:16-20). He is the second person of the Godhead, and He is coming to earth for judgment according to Revelation 1:7-8, and cross reference verses with Revelation 22:12-17, it refers to Jesus Christ.
Another example is Jesus being “Yahweh” that the Old Testament spoke. John the Baptist’s proclamation is the fulfillment of the prophecy that Yahweh had come to Earth. John the Baptist revealed the fulfillment of the prophecy of “the voice.” John the Baptist was baptizing as the voice in preparing the way of Yahweh. He baptized the Lord Jesus Christ, humanity’s mediator (Jn. 1:19-23 cf., Is. 40:3, 43:10-12).
Revelation 21:1 through chapter 22 speaks about events of the future dispensation’s operation of God’s plan on the earth, and the eternal New Heaven and New Earth.
There are truths all through the Bible that reveal the Lord Jesus Christ including Elohim's expectation of finishing His plan with humanity and all of creation! The purpose of this book and teaching on dispensations is to give the reader a revolutionary understanding that they have never seen.
Dispensations are Biblical. They are taught to clarify the truth of our Lord Jesus Christ from Genesis to Revelation. Dispensations were God’s creation and the Operating System was used by the Godhead to accurately reveal our Lord, the Second Person of the trinity, as the Mediator of the Redemptive Covenant (Jn. 1:3).
Our LORD created time by His sovereignty and omniscience. A Dispensation is an explanation of time in a historical, momentary, economic period. Time does not control the event. Dispensations reveal the intercourse of humanity’s deportment, mannerisms, and behavior in fulfilling the eternal plan of the Godhead.
The Seven Major Dispensations show how our LORD symmetrically planned and organized all of creation in a logical, beautiful way. God has not been surprised by the failure of humanity. In His sovereign omniscience and foreknowledge, He planned the beginning through to the end as He designs, controls, and carries out his Eternal Dispensational plan to completion.
God (Elohim) controls and knows the thoughts and actions of every human. He knew them before He created them, and He never has been, nor will he ever be caught off guard. His foreknowledge, omnipresent, omnipotence, and omniscience have prepared all things. His preparation was beforehand, before anything occurred, along with the victories, failures, and the eternal end of all things. He did all this because of His love for you. Remember, all things work out for believers’ good, even though some things that occur are not good.
Romans 8:28-30, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, and these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.”
The understanding and use of a dispensational approach to Scripture are the same as other disciplines. A dispensation’s operation reveals to humans the understanding or revelation in a logical, cognitive way, giving spiritual knowledge, and wisdom.
The dispensational approach is accurate, compared to making a covenant a dispensation. A covenant does not change until completion of the promise made within is complete (refer to chapter three and look up the verses on the covenants in the Bible).
Dispensations change according to God’s plan to the next dispensation, which He planned in eternity past and controlled by His plan as designed for a dispensation (explained in the following chapters in detail). A dispensation can go on forever, as seen for the future dispensation, the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time (Eph. 1:10, Rev. 21-22).
Having knowledge and wisdom from God is eternally important because it brings us peace, joy, love, long-suffering, gentleness, and any other emotions that make us live to our fullest, God-given, potential.
In summary, God has given us systematic theology, the Koine Greek language, and the Hebrew language. God’s constant eternal endeavor was for humanity to know Him as its creator and God. Remember that God, through Christ Jesus, holds together all things!
Hebrews 1:1-4, “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”
Some words uniquely express the spiritual truths of Scripture, trinity, dispensations, covenants, Theology, Bibliology, Pneumatology, Soteriology, Christology, redemption, reconciliation, salvation, and many more. Their meanings are derived by expanding the knowledge of Scripture to its full and meaningful purpose.
When defined, words further explain truth and acquire their full meaning. Teachers, when teaching and explaining the assembling of words, bring meaning to the entire concepts together in an orderly fashion. The teaching of the whole purpose of God’s words as God the Holy Spirit opens these truths to our understanding is essential. This book works at putting all this into perspective, revealing the facts of the Godhead, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and humanity’s responsibility to trust and submit to the One and only God.
So, how do dispensations show us the importance and the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ? In the same way that faithful teachers and theologians have already been doing, by their dedication to the Word of God.
They seek to define and explain these concepts, endeavoring to understand the symmetry of the Godhead including His complete works from eternity past into the Eternal Dispensation, the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time, also called the eternal Kingdom of God (Elohim the Godhead).
In the past, there was the time of creation (Gen. 1, Jn. 1:1-3). During this time humans sinned, and became sinners throughout the multiple dispensations. However, there will be final completeness and fullness when God’s total integrity of time is complete. The Fullness of Time will never end. God created it to be eternal and it will come in His timing.
Translations of the following Greek verse by the scholars of languages translates this time in Ephesians 1:10 as “the fullness of time,” (KJV, NRSV, ASV,) “when time reaches its fullness,” (NIV) and as “the days of completion,” (HCSB).
On pg. 53
Reasons to know that Dispensational Truths Give a Clear Understanding of God’s Eternal Plan:
Today’s evangelists, pastors, and teachers need to have a clear understanding of Dispensational truth in order to lead their flocks into maturity. The following are reasons why it is important to know the dispensational facts that are found in God’s Word:
In conclusion, Christians do not have to "spiritualize" God's word or tell "spiritual lies" that harm the works of Christ in the world. All Scripture is alive in an orderly, progressive, and an understandable way. Dispensations help us understand God's creation through real-life examples (2 Tim. 3:15-16, 2 Pet. 1:19-21, Rom. 15:4).
On pg. 55
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On pg. 57
Chapter 3
In this chapter we will be introducing the various covenants found in each dispensation. We will look at each covenant in Scripture as it relates to mankind and God’s Sovereignty!
The covenants will not be broken (they are bonded to be fulfilled) and they are very important. Bond (promised) covenants are important to cherish. There cannot be any new stipulations added to a covenant by adding to them or taking any aspect away that is already within the covenant.
Any new covenant made within a Dispensation operating at the time does not start a new dispensation. The fulfillment of a covenant will be either, completed in the present Dispensation or in the next.Galatians 3:15b, “-- covenant, yet if it is confirmed (synonyms: bond, ratified, endorsed, confirmed) no one annuls or adds to it.”
1 Corinthians 1: 4-9: “I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Hebrews 6:17-20: “Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
2 Peter 1:19-21: “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
Study these other complementary verses for enrichment: Galatians 3:15-18 and Hebrews 2:1-3.
One cannot change a covenant or the Absolute Universal Laws of God; only the rules outside the covenant for governing the operational provisions can change. Covenants only fulfill themselves within their original formation; it is independent of a dispensation. Modification in a dispensation’s functioning is an Operating Guideline.
Within the new dispensation operation, there are laws modified, which carried over from a former dispensation’s operation. These modified laws then are included with the new rules that God gives for governing the new dispensation.
When handling a Dispensation, the rules of the implementation of changes cannot violate Universal Absolute Truth. It is important to remember that a Dispensation is not a covenant, but covenants are within the operating dispensation. Bond (promise that cannot be broken) covenants may find their fulfillment in the current Dispensation or continue through it and into the next.
A modified rule within a dispensation operation does not nullify or modify a covenant or ever reverse the covenant’s promises. A covenant is fulfilled according to the original promise given to an individual or a specific people group (Example: A future fulfilment for Israel, Gen. 17, 48:4, Ex. 19:6, Ps. 105:5, Is. 45:4,7, 11, 17, 25, 51:11, 16, Is 60, Jer 31, 32:36-44, Ezek. 16:60, 37:26. Example for individuals Jn. 3:16, Eph. 2).
For example, The Redemptive Covenant will never change by the dispensation’s operation; God alone fulfills this covenant. Enveloped within the Dispensations is the Redemptive Covenant. It runs from the planning in eternity past and continuing eternally into the seventh Dispensation. The Redemptive Covenant conclusion is complete in God’s total plan and not dependent on humanity.
Dispensations carry the process of a covenant to complete fulfillment, but a dispensation operation does not add or take away from the covenant bond, which God the originator made. He decides to bring it to completion and fulfillment. God never lies about the promises He gives, and His promises always find fulfillment (Heb. 6:18)!
Remember, a dispensation operation has a transitional ending when the stewards fail and the longsuffering of God end (The beginning of the new dispensation begins in infancy when the fifth of the Seven Operational Keys occurs, fully explained in chapters six through eleven).
On pg. 59
This was God’s gift to humanity. See: Hebrews 13:20, Genesis 9:8-17, Ephesians 1:4, 2 Timothy 1:9, Titus 1:2, Hebrews 4:3.
The Redemptive Covenant has Two Stages. The First Stage covers the time before the finished works of Jesus Christ and the Second Stage highlights the implementation of Christ Jesus’ provisions completed in Acts 1-2. The Second Stage is also the revelation of the New Covenant. The Second Stage is the fulfillment of the requirement of the Redemptive Covenant that Christ Jesus, the LORD alone fulfilled (Heb. 1:1-7, 7:22). It will continue operating through the completion of the believers’ glorification (Eph. 1:14, 2:8-11).
Romans 8:29-30: “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.”
Positionally, believers are glorified now but they experience that fulfillment in their physical resurrection.
All believers, according to the time promised for their transformation, will experience glorification by the beginning of the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time ((Eph. 1:10, 13-14, 1 Thess 4:13-20, 2 Cor. 5:1-6, 1 Cor. 15, Rev. 20:4-6, 11-15).
The First Stage of the Old Covenant deals with animal sacrifices, and the Second Stage is the New Covenant that includes one sacrifice provided by the Lord Jesus Christ. The words old (first stage), and new (second stage) are significant as they identify the Redemptive Covenant in relationship to God’s incarnation and finishing work of Christ Jesus historically.
The Redemptive Covenant exists from eternity past into eternity future. The covenant operates through all the Dispensations along with the other covenants. The Redemptive Covenant implementation started when Adam and Eve sinned. God provided the animal sacrifice alone needed for an atonement. Later we see scripture confirm that God alone gives implementation to believers as recorded in Romans 4:1-8, the examples of Abraham and David.
The Redemptive Covenant is the essential covenant whereby an individual can receive the gift of eternal life along with an eternal, God-given home in heaven through Jesus Christ (Rom. 6:23, 5:15-18).
It is the only provision accomplished and given by God whereby an individual can receive the LORD Jesus Christ and have all of their sins wholly forgiven including those in their past, present and future (Rom. 5:6-11, 6:23, 10:9-13, Jn. 1:12, 1 Jn. 5:9-14, Phil. 3:20, 1 Pet. 1:3-4, Ps. 103).
When an individual receives Christ, he immediately receives an eternal and personal relationship with God. From that moment of salvation on, he or she is a part of God’s eternal family as a transformed child of God. At that very moment each of us who believe and repent become eternally adopted as sons and daughters into the eternal family of God. We are truly, bought with a price, which is the blood of Christ Jesus the Son of God. The One, incarnate God, who completed the redemptive sacrifice that humanity could not give or provide for himself, He made this adoption possible (Rom. 8:12-17, 9:25-26, 12:1-2, Eph. 1:5-7, 2 Cor. 3:18, Heb. 1:1-4, Jn. 3:16).
Our Lord Jesus Christ’s incarnation, the once for all sacrifice was the just payment God required for forgiveness of sins (John 1:1, 14, Matthew 1:21). The Lord Jesus reconciled individual humans with God and in turn, God is reconciled to individuals upon their receiving of Jesus as their Lord and only Savior creating a new relationship.
Humans, as a whole, are children of God’s creation. However, there are not transformed children just by being born into the human race. Nor is a person a child of God because of some mortal work he or she might have accomplished in life (Acts 17:24-31, Tit. 3:5). Transformation takes place when the individual allows Jesus to be their Lord God (Rom. 10:9, 13), which imparts forgiveness to them by God. The sacrificial death Jesus gave at the cross was and is sufficient for them.
If a person does not want to change, he or she will remain in their depraved state and be eternally damned. Many do not want to change in life but only give lip service. Some follow Jesus Christ to seem religious, while others do not even do that, but instead are hostile to the truth that would set them free from their bondage of death (Is. 26:9-10). Whenever our Lord Jesus Christ healed and forgave, He would ask the person, “Do you want to be free?”
Mark 10:51: “So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
Matthew 23:37: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!”
See also Matthew 10:14.
However, the good news is that anyone who asks God the Son (to save them) because they want to change their life, will change!
John 6:37: “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.”
Romans 10:13: “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
See also John 10:1-21.
Faith is not ignorant or blind. It is trusting in the facts that God has promised and preserved for humanity in His Word. Responding to truth in repentance is the individual’s responsibility.
Faith is not only knowledge but also receiving and resting on the facts of what Jesus Christ has done. Receiving Him is a personal action (Jn. 1:12, Tit. 3:4-7, 2 Cor. 7:10, Rom. 2:4; 10:9-13). He accepts you on an individual basis just between He and you (Rom. 10:17, Heb. 11:1-3, 6, 2 Pet. 1:2-21, 2 Tim. 3:16-17, Eph. 2:8-9, Rom. 4:6-8, 21-26, 1 Jn. 5:9-14).
A key difference between an act of faith and an act of work, is where does one’s faith specifically came from or originated. Then, is it directed towards God’s truths or humans? Does it come from God’s work in Christ Jesus alone or from one’s initiative or one’s imagination?
The Word of God places salvation apart from works. Furthermore, transformation does not come from human thought or inventions but from God the Father.
Ask yourself, are the works shaped and exercised by one’s thoughts and actions, apart from faith given in Jesus Christ’s salvation? The answer is that no human works are able (Tit. 3:5, cf. Rom. 10:9-13, 4:4-5, Gal. 2:16-21, Eph, 2:8-10). Faith is not ignorant or blind but a gift from God. It is trusting in the facts that God has promised and preserved for humanity in His Word. Responding to truth revealed in His Word in repentance being the individual’s responsibility.
That being the case, one must accept what the Bible says, including that it comes from God the Father drawing you to Himself by the Holy Spirit. He will not forsake you, instead He will forgive you of all your sins, yes, all, and will make you a transformed adopted child of God (Jn. 6:37, 1 Jn. 2:1-3, 5:9-14, Ps. 103, Is. 1:18).
Upon receiving the facts and truth, God seals you as His own from that moment you received Him. From that moment, all the way through physical death and into eternity, a person is secure. God seals you, with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13-14) and He secures your physical redemption unto the resurrection of the body. God the Holy Spirit indwells you the moment that God seals your body, from that moment you are the Temple of God (1 Cor. 3:16-17; 6:19; 2 Cor. 2:16, Eph. 4:30).
The transformation of your spiritual existence is secure for eternity. At death, your spirit goes to be with Him forever, and at the time of resurrection, He reunites your body, soul, and spirit anew (Eph. 1:13-14, 4:30, Ps. 103:17, 1 Pet. 1:3-4, 1 Thess. 4:13-18).
The Gospel is the paramount truth for anyone, and available to everyone, but it is only given to those who accept His provision, then it becomes theirs. The Gospel ensures and guarantees us salvation and a personal relationship with God when we accept Him in Christ Jesus (1 Jn. 5:12-13).
Those who refuse and reject these facts and truths of God are “truly the walking dead.” They will reap eternal Irreversible Punitive Judgment in the endless eternal Lake of Fire. A personal rejection of God’s just provision that He provided in the Lord Jesus Christ, the incarnate second Person of the triune Godhead, seals their eternal destiny (Rev. 20:7-10, 11-15).
See the “Redemptive Covenant” flowchart in the next chapter on the Redemptive Covenant. Also, refer to the Order of Dispensations on the chart in chapter one, which refers to all the Dispensations (administrations) that God planned since creation. Be sure to follow the red line through the Seven Major Dispensations.
All the Major Dispensations and their operations reveal God and lead to the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the mediator operating within humanity’s history.
History shows the need for an adequate redeemer who came and provided relief for humanity’s failure. This needed redeemer finds fulfillment in the incarnation by the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our LORD’s works in all Dispensations provided for all human needs for eternity (Gen. 2:4, LORD, Yahweh). Jesus Christ was the mediator before and after His incarnation. The history of the heavens and the earth when created was through the Lord Jesus Christ in the day that the Lord God (Yahweh Elohim) made the earth and the heavens (Heb. 1:1-4, Jn. 1:1-4, 7, 10, 14, 3:17, 14:6, Acts 10:43, Rom. 5:9, Eph. 3:12).
1 Timothy 2:5: “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.”
John 1:3: “All things were made through Him (the one mediator), and without Him nothing was made that was made.”
As you study the first four Dispensations in the Word of God whenever you read Yahweh in most translations, it is “LORD” with capital letters. It refers to the mediator before His incarnation (Gen.2:4, 1 Tim. 2:5).
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This is a unique name for the Redemptive Covenant. See: Hebrews 9:15, and Genesis 9:16.
The one Eternal Covenant of salvation runs from eternity past through the existence of humanity on earth, and into eternity future. He reveals the empowerment of salvation through Deity, God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit working on humanity, bringing them to salvation through the dispensations. Upon personal acceptance by faith received by a cognitive response of faith according to the written record, the Word of God, salvation occurs (Rom. 1:17, 10:17, 1 Jn. 5:9-14, Rom. 8:26-30, 10:9-13, Eph. 1:13). Next, we need to look at some key points of the Eternal Covenant.
The Word of God reveals the Eternal Covenant of Redemption planned by the Godhead in eternity past. The Eternal Covenant started redemption for believers with God’s foreknowledge and design before it was needed, before the creation of the heavens and earth (Heb. 13:20, Gen. 9:8-17, Eph. 1:4, 2 Tim. 1:9, Tit. 1:2, Heb. 4:3).
God’s Eternal Covenant, with the promised Seed, was at work in the first three Dispensations (Rom. 1:20, 2:12-16). Working in the Dispensation of Innocence (Gen. 3:15, 21), the Dispensation of Conscience (Gen. 4:4, Lk. 11:49-51, Heb. 11:4, 12:23-24, Gen. 6:9, Heb. 11:7) and the Dispensation of Human Government (Gen. 14:18, Ex. 3:1, Gen. 11:27-32, 2 Pet. 2:5-7, Gen. 9:12-17).
Note: The Eternal Covenant passed through Seth’s (Adam and Eves’ son) descendants, then Shem’s (Noah’s son) followed by Abraham who was alive more than 1,000 years after Seth (Lk. 3:23-38). Then from Abraham’s seed through the line of Judea to King David, and finally to the Virgin Mary came the promised Seed.
The Eternal Covenant given to Abraham was guaranteed to be fulfilled through his descendants. The guarantee came to his earthly descendant. Our Savior came through the Nation of Israel, the promised Deliverer for humanity (Gen. 3:15).
The Eternal Covenant connection is a guarantee for those during the Dispensation of Grace today. Salvation is eternal (Eph. 1:6, 10-11, 2:12-13).
The Savior came through Abraham’s line of Judah and He would be a blessing to the whole earth. He would heal all from the effects of sin, and would bring a way for reconciliation to God as prophesied (Gen. 49:10, 1 Sam. 17:12, 2 Sam. 7:12, 2 Kings 8:19, Matt. 2:6, Heb. 7:14, 8:8, Rev. 7:5, 22:12-16).
The additional covenants that are given alongside with the Redemptive Covenant given to Abraham. They did not change the Redemptive Covenant.
The Edenic covenant is not found in the Bible by name. See: Genesis 1-2.
The Bible does not explicitly state a covenant called the Edenic Covenant. It is not in God’s Word. However, there is possibly a bond covenant referring to this period in Hosea 6:7. However, it is not clear if the Hebrew word for man in Hosea is refers to Adam the person or Ephraim and Judah at that period.
God’s Word does not use the word “covenant” before the revelation to Noah. Conceivably a case could be made that there had been a covenant other than the Redemptive Covenant in effect, but none is mentioned until God established His covenant with Noah.
Thus, the first occurrence of the word “covenant” in Scripture was with Noah. It is the covenant for the earth. In passing, another bond covenant reference was made called the Everlasting or Eternal Covenant mentioned in Genesis 9:16. It is a prophetic declaration of Genesis 3:15, namely of the finished workings of Our Lord Jesus Christ and His eternal salvation. The Everlasting Covenant, also called the Redemptive Covenant found, can be identified and found in numerous places throughout the Bible (Heb. 9:15, 13:20, Gen. 9:8-17).
The Redemptive Covenant established in eternity past was planned by the Godhead and progressively fulfilled (Eph. 1:1-3, Gal. 4:4-6). This Covenant was implemented when Adam and Eve sinned (Gen. 3).
It was prophesied that the Redemptive Covenant would go through a time or period in history in which Satan would seek to subvert and destroy God and His planned promise.
Nevertheless, the Lord Jesus would defeat Satan as promised (Gen. 3:15). Even though Scripture does not use the word “covenant” with the prophecy in Genesis, in Scripture, we discover it reveals the fulfillment of the covenant in Christ Jesus the Lord. The prophesied result of the Redemptive Covenant was successfully accomplished by the Godhead through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The prophetic promise of Genesis 3:15, was fulfilled in the New Testament (Covenant) with our Lord Jesus Christ. As a result, the New Testament connects His promise with the supremacy of the Redemptive Covenant. The truths of the First Stage and the Second Stage, completes redemption through the finished works of Christ Jesus, they worked together progressively, and they bring the Eternal Bond Covenant to completion.
The Seven Major Dispensations reveal the progression all the way to the Covenant’s conclusion, through the historical dispensations, concluding with the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time.
The Redemptive Covenant, Stage two, was established by the Godhead in eternity past (Heb. 4:3). With the implementation of stage two, also called the New Covenant, brought eternal victory for those who believe in God, which became a reality in Christ Jesus the LORD (Jn. 1:1, cf. verse 14, 1 Jn. 5:1-13).
Paul verifies the eternal Redemptive Covenant planned by the Godhead in eternity past that was brought to completion in Christ Jesus, the Lord (Eph. 1:4, 2 Tim. 1:9, Tit. 1:2).
Genesis contains many complete and inclusive truths of universal and lasting value. For example, the creation of time in the form of a 24-hour day, seven-day week, and months that govern time. At creation, this was God’s absolute decree to govern nature. All the governing laws of nature (science) mentioned in Genesis are universal truths working within a dispensation operation for humanity.
Universal Truths of God are categorized under the Key Operating Rule of a Dispensation. Every dispensation operating has Seven Keys that guide the economy of operation. Those parts are the guiding truths relating to the functioning of the economy within a Dispensational process (this is explained further in chapters 5-11).
We see here that the beginning of a Dispensation is operating, even though the word “dispensation” does not appear in the original language. A dispensation operation is the implied usage for the economy in this passage. A Dispensational definition will explain and describe the events better, rather than forcing a covenant definition that is not present within the verses.
All the Dispensations interconnect God’s Master plan that He created. The whole of God’s eternal redemptive plan or Eternal Dispensation is historically completed by and revealed through the works of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, the redeemer (Eph. 1:3-6, Gen. 1:15, Matt. 1:21, Rev. 22:20-21).
All the Major Dispensations reveal eternal life for those to whom Jesus imputes righteousness (Rom. 4:6, and 1 Jn. 5:9-14). Eternal damnation in hell and the Lake of Fire are the just punishments given to those who reject His sovereign plan (Rev. 20:11-15).
The Lake of Fire was not God’s original intention for humanity, but because He gives fairness in His justice, he had to set about to punish those who went against Him. He is just. Therefore, His punishment is just.
God acts in holy righteousness to the wicked and to the evil-depraved He has to be absolute and penalize them justly (Rom. 3:26). Yet, He extends His love, with fairness, holiness, and justice through His incarnation in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is the holy and just payment price for the disobedience of all humans (Rom. 5). The pardon He provided is freely obtainable and is not forced on anyone. It is given liberally to all sinners upon receiving the payment in which Jesus Christ provided. When received, one has full forgiveness and is transformed into a saint (Ps. 103, Eph. 1:7, Eph. 3:4-8, Rom. 10:9-13).
Sadly, those who reject Christ Jesus and go it alone in refusal of God’s gift (pardon) will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire. A human cannot have their defiled existence paid for by doing good works or by rejecting God. This is because every human created is eternal, and when leaving the earth all will go to a place for eternity. The Lake of Fire is an infinite prison in which those imprisoned will be in conscious torment forever because of their refusal of God’s free gift, not God’s rejection (Heb. 9:27, cf. John 3:16).
The imprisonment of the Lake of Fire is a solitary confinement, alone and not with the general population of the lost in the Eternal Lake of Fire. Today is the day of salvation, not then. All who go their own depraved way will receive eternal justice for their actions (Rev. 19:20, 20:10-15, Matt. 13:36-43, Mk. 9:44-48, Ps. 1:4-6).
Matthew 25:46: “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”
Dispensations reveal the details of history, the details of the failures of humans, and the foreknowledge of God. They show, in a symmetrically and an orderly fashion, what God has planned. God knows the thoughts that each human will come up with as an excuse. He directs the exact outcome in each Dispensation. He planned the exact time and placed where they would live. He gives them the best opportunity to trust and obey Him (Acts 17:23-28).
God’s first Dispensation did have the potential of existing eternally if human failure had not occurred and had they trusted and obeyed Him in this testing period.
When the failure of sin occurred, we see the first transition after creation caused by the first failure of the stewards that resulted in the first Irreversible Punitive Judgment.
God in His eternal, sovereign, foreknowledge knew before creation in eternity past and planned the events for the change from one dispensation operation to the next. These three elements, working are part of the whole of the Seven Operating Mechanics designed by God, from one dispensation to the next (see chapters nine through eleven for more information). Believers today are stewards of the Dispensation. As such, Christians need to know these truths (1 Cor. 5:17-21).
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This is not found in the Bible by name. See: Genesis 3.
The Bible does not explicitly state a covenant called the Adamic Covenant, for it is not in God’s Word. The label is like the Edenic covenant, a theological presupposition marker. However, our knowledge of the Redemptive covenant is recorded having existed and made in eternity past (Eph. 1:4, 2 Tim. 1:9, Tit. 1:2, Heb. 4:3). It is known the covenant was implemented when Adam and Eve sinned, and is prophesied in Genesis 3:15. The penalty for their sins is dispensational not a covenant.
If Dispensations were understood earlier in history, there would be more consistency today. In any case, there are numerous points of identification in Genesis 3 that point to a Dispensation rather than a Covenant.
Genesis 3:15 is the prophecy of redemption. Genesis presents more defined proof of the Governing Operational Principles within the economy of a Dispensation then it does regarding a covenant appearance. Sin’s consequences resulted in a change in the dispensational operation. It did not result or start a new covenant.
Genesis 3:15 gives the prophetic future of the Lord Jesus Christ and His accomplishment. The covenant of the victorious promise of redemption appears here prophetically, and is verified, as a covenant from multiple other Scriptural references (Gal. 3:16-19, Eph. 1:4, 2 Tim. 1:9, Tit. 1:2, Heb. 4:3; 13:20, Gen. 9:16-17).
The events of Adam’s sin and fall need to be examined as part of the makeup of the dispensation’s operation, which relates to humanity’s failure and God’s long-suffering ending. The events of disobedience that occurred led to the additional three parts of the dispensation’s operation and the starting of the new dispensation in infancy. Specifically the sin causing the failure, transition, and subsequent irreversible punitive judgment that led to the next dispensation’s economy. This then caused the Dispensation to change and the new one taking full control.
This presents a good time for us to remind ourselves of the Seven Principles of Operation planned by God for the operation of a dispensation:
Note: The Seven Principles are expounded in greater-detail in chapters six through eleven.
This Redemptive Covenant already existed before the creation and Dispensations. God had a plan for both before creation. God’s omniscience in His foreknowledge, love, mercy, and grace was already in place when sin occurred.
The first prophesied promise of deliverance is in Genesis 3:15. The promise of Christ Jesus’ salvation and deliverance already existed from eternity past and was predicted during the transition period between the Dispensations of Innocence and Conscience.
It is essential to take note that in all Dispensations, God provided a just covering for sin until Christ Jesus. He instituted it for the covering of sin by His love for His creation until Christ Jesus would accomplish His works. Individuals today receive the just covering from God by faith even as they received it by faith in the beginning.
A covering was required because God cannot look upon sin. As such, the sinner would not be able to live and have fellowship with Him in love as He wanted. God’s holiness, His Shekinah glory, would cause a sinful individual to die immediately and be eternally lost (Ex. 19, 24, Ez. 10:4, Rev. 15:8). Shekinah glory is the brilliant, unapproachable light of God’s holy presence (Jn. 1:16-17, Rev. 1:8, 22:12-16).
1 Timothy 6: 14-16: “that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate (ruler, sovereign), the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.”
The only difference before Jesus Christ is that those before His death on the cross received it as a covering until the finished works of the Lord Jesus. After and ever since, believers receive full forgiveness by Christ Jesus’ finished works. Faith is activated by God imputing righteousness to the individual upon the principle of faith given to them by God.
Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
Romans 1:16-17: “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, the just shall live by faith.”
See also: Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:7, and Hebrews 10:38.
Romans 4:1-8: “What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:”
Hebrews 4:2: “For indeed the Gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.”
Humanity’s religions have never provided salvation. The faulty insufficient garment covering of leaves that Adam and Eve made for themselves (an example of man’s attempt to reach God) was not sufficient because it was not a proper blood sacrifice that could satisfy the justice payment necessary for their sin (Heb. 9:22).
From that time on, a perfect sacrifice was needed, which only the LORD Jesus Christ could provide, and which He did, through His incarnation, life, death, and resurrection (Matt. 1:21, Jn. 2:19-22, Gal. 1:1, Rom. 8:11, Heb. 4:15, 6:18).
The Old Testament or Covenant, the First Stage of the Redemptive Covenant, was operational and not forced on humanity. God provided the first animal sacrifice to cover Adam and Eve's sin. He applied it in the first transition after the first Dispensational failure.
This animal was a blood sacrifice providing an offering or covering over sin. The sacrifice provided a relationship with God that operated until the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ and the New Covenant's implementation in Acts 2. Adam and Eve received the sacrifice willfully. They clothed themselves with the blood sacrifice God provided for them, thus they exercised faith.
This first Dispensation's transition starts with the sin or the stewards' failure and ends with their immediate expulsion from the Garden of Eden, as God planned. All transitions from one Dispensation to the next show the decreasing of the former Dispensation along with the increase and eventual taking over of the new one. It is simply amazing how the change occurs yet does not conflict. Dispensational changes are never contradictory to God's truths.
The Bible’s accuracy continues from the writings of Moses to John. In so doing, it reveals the ordered, authentic, and accurate inspired actions (from God the Holy Spirit) of its authors.
Dispensational understanding of the transitions between each dispensation operation will enable the student of Scripture to comprehend the events occurring between Dispensations. See chapters five and ten for information about the transition changes in the dispensation process.
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This was the first mention of a named covenant. See: Genesis 9:11-17.
The Dispensation of Human Government came into full operation, giving responsibility to the stewards to live and propagate these truths. God said to Noah about the rainbow, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between “Me,” and all flesh that is on the earth.”
As stated earlier, the Noahic Covenant is the first mention of a covenant in Scripture. The word “covenant” appears here for the first time translated from the original text. In it, God reveals to Noah that He would never again destroy the whole earth by a worldwide flood.
God gave the rainbow as a sign of the covenant. The rainbow was a reminder for “God and humanity and every living creature of all flesh,” reminding them of the Redemptive Covenant, also described as the Everlasting Covenant.
The rainbow is meant to give us security. It serves as a reminder of God’s promises every time it appears (Jn. 3:16, 2 Pet. 3:9, Rom. 2:4, 5:8, 8:38-39).
The Redemptive Covenant is the covenant that runs through all of Scripture. It is the only provision needed for eternal life and the covenant is in keeping with God’s promise to the world (Gen. 3:15).
Genesis 9:11-17: “Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” God said, “This is the sign of the covenant, which I make between ‘Me’ and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I set ‘My’ rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between ‘Me’ and the earth. It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; and I will remember ‘My’ covenant, which is between ‘Me’ and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the Everlasting Covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”
Note: The Redemptive Covenant is also called the Everlasting Covenant.
When a rainbow appears, it is meant to remind us of the additional original aspect of the covenant called the “Everlasting Covenant.” The rainbow is a visual reminder that the destruction of all flesh was the outcome for evil. However, because God originally included it as an eternal aspect to the covenant for humanity, it will not happen by a worldwide flood.
Every time a person observes a rainbow, it should remind them, “Today is the day of salvation,” as it shows them God’s long-suffering nature. This earth will not pass away by a worldwide flood. However, Jesus Christ the LORD will return to complete the Everlasting Covenant and the irreversible punitive judgement to all those who lived who rejected their creator the Savior. This will be the final event (Rev. 20:11-15, Is. 45:14-25).
Romans 14:11: “For it is written: “As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”
Moreover, Jesus Christ makes the “Everlasting Covenant” permanent in the lives of those who receive God in Christ. This goes beyond their earthly existence (Rom. 8, Gal. 3:15-18, Eph. 1:4, 2 Tim. 1:9, Tit. 1:2, Heb. 4:3, 13:20, Gen. 9:16-17).
There is a New Earth within His eternal plan. All of humanity can receive entry to the New Earth today. Yet sadly, many will not, only the redeemed will have access to the “New Earth” (Jn. 3:16, Lk. 13:22-30, Rev. 21-22).
There are other dispensational aspects revealed with the covenants. Genesis 9:1-7 reveals a dispensational operation that is not part of a bond covenant.
Verses 1 through 7 are instead instructive, explaining, and setting out the dispensational rules, along with modifications for the new dispensation operation that is different from the former. It also states some new Absolute Universal Rules and Laws.
There is a change occurring, a transition between the previous Dispensation that started at the failure recorded in Genesis 8. In this change, the stewardship for the next Dispensation changes to Noah and his descendants. The Operating Rules were the plan of God from eternity past for the Dispensation of Human Government.
The following are examples relating to the first four System rules of this dispensation operating. See chapters five through eleven for more information about these four system rules.
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Rules that are carryover from former dispensations (Gen. 1:26-31 cf. 9:1-5).
Modified Rules:
New Rules not previously given:
This was a promise from God. See: Genesis 12:1-3; chapters 15, and 17.
The Abrahamic Covenant took place in the transition period before the full operation of the Dispensation of Promise. Abraham received six new covenants and passed them to his physical dependents from God. These six were included with the bond covenant given to Abraham.
The next covenants within the Dispensation of Promise were with Abraham. Bond covenants would be within the dispensational history for people who would be faithful for the next following years.
These Jewish believers were to be witnesses during the historical proceedings and were to be examples to those who will believe and obey God in future Dispensations. An Absolute Universal Truth appears here that reveals the fact that the way a believer lives their life today affects the children of the future. Put simply, each believer today is accountable to God for his or her witness for the generations of tomorrow.
1 Corinthians 10:11: “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”
The Abrahamic Covenant coincided with the additional covenants and with the Redemptive Covenant. Each was given and yet the bond covenant of each never changed (covenants may have operational conditions in experiencing the benefits of the bond covenant, but the original bond covenant does not change).
When you learn about the promised covenants, it is important to ask which bond covenant the Word of God is speaking about. It is also always a good thing to know the operating dispensational rules for carrying out the covenant.
When studying the Bible, ask yourself if a passage is referring to a singular covenant or more than one (plural) covenant. Examples of both plural covenants (Rom. 9:4, Gal. 4:24, Eph. 2:12), and a singular covenants (Rom. 11:27, Gal. 3:17, 1 Cor. 11:25, 2 Cor. 3:6) can be found throughout Scripture.
There were six Covenants given to Abraham in the Dispensation of Promise. They pertain to the descendants of the Nation of Israel and to the non-Jewish world. Israel was responsible for carrying out the mandates given in the dispensation operation, and the non-Jewish world was to honor their position.
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Genesis 17:7: “And I will establish My covenant between Me and you (Abraham) and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you.”
More information and details on the Abrahamic Covenant and the additional covenants are in the next chapter on the Redemptive Covenant.
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The Mosaic Covenant
This was a lifeline covenant for Israel’s preservation (Ex. 27-28; 34:8-10).
The writing of the Mosaic Covenant and the Ten Commandments were given to Israel at Mount Sinai for them to propagate to the world.
The Mosaic Covenant was given to the twelve descendants of Abraham's descendant, Jacob. Moses was from the family of the tribe of Levi. God used him, gave him the Mosaic Covenant at Mount Sinai that extended the covenants and promises to Abraham's twelve families. These events were a continuation of the Dispensation of Promise. Note it was not a new Major Dispensation.
Leviticus 42:44-46: “Then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and My covenant with Isaac and My covenant with Abraham I will remember. -- Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, nor shall I abhor them, to utterly destroy them and break My covenant with them; for I am the Lord their God. But for their sake I will remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God: I am the Lord.” These are the statutes and judgments and laws which the Lord made between Himself and the children of Israel on Mount Sinai by the hand of Moses.”
Moses incorporated the laws he received from God and recorded them in the first five books of the Bible, also referred to as the Torah (Lev. 10:11). Moreover, Moses interceded for the Nation of Israel. He prevented their destruction because of their sins at Mount Sinai. Because of their sinful actions, God was about to destroy them all, and start anew with Moses. Many times when referring to the Law of Moses in the Bible, it relates to the first five books of the Torah.
Therefore, Israel's preservation, given to Moses, was an added covenant. Moses then related the scope of the laws he received to the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Dispensational laws and rules were incorporated into Israel’s requirements on Mount Sinai for the progression of the operating Dispensation of Promise in bringing forward the Redemptive Covenant.
Deut. 5:1-5, “And Moses called all Israel, and said to them: “Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your hearing today, that you may learn them and be careful to observe them. The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. The Lord did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, those who are here today, all of us who are alive. The Lord talked with you face to face on the mountain from the midst of the fire. I stood between the Lord and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the Lord; for you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up the mountain. He said.”
From this point on references to the old covenant, include these three aspects: the Abrahamic Covenants, the Mosaic Covenant, and the dispensational Law of Moses, which he received at Mount Sinai.
Remember the responsibility in a dispensation, the ordained stewards of God carries out the economy’s operation preserving and living out the covenants until their fulfillment.
Uniquely, the Mosaic covenant was not one of the previous bond covenants established with Abraham. The promise covenants with Abraham were already operational with Abraham’s descendants by the time of the Mosaic Covenant (Deut. 5:1-5, Ex. 6:2-4, Gal. 3:17-18, 4:21-26, Lev. 26:42, 45-46).
The Mosaic Covenant served as a negotiation piece for the Israelites' sin of rebellion. The Mosaic Law was received at Mount Sinai at the same time when God was ready to destroy Israel for idolatrous worship (Ex. 34:8-10, 27-28). God offered to work His plan through Moses in place of all the 12 families of the Israelites who came out of Egypt, but thankfully Moses interceded for them (Ex. 32:9-11, Ex. 34:8-9, Ps. 106:23).
Moses knew God, who was superior to Israel’s sin and appealed to Him and His mighty works. When Moses descended from the mountain after meeting with God, he saw and experienced the people’s bad behavior and their sinful rebellion. At that time, Moses interceded for them by communicating with God. He challenged God’s desire to destroy the rebellious Israelites, by appealing to His purpose for them (Ex. 32:11-13).
Moses connected Israel’s deliverance from Egypt to God’s glory, and he arbitrated, by expressing to God for His namesake, not to destroy them. Destroying them could cause the non-believing nations around them to mock God. The Mosaic covenant was God’s commitment to Moses to continue His work through the Jewish people who had come out of Egypt.
Therefore, the Mosaic Covenant represented God continuing to work through all the twelve descendants who came out of Egypt instead of destroying them and starting over with Moses, bringing the Savior the Lord Jesus to the earth (Lev. 26:40-46).
The Israelites were worthy of destruction but instead, God used that occasion to bring to the world laws (Rom. 3:1-2, 7:12). The purpose of the Law of Moses was built around the Ten Commandments to reveal the sinfulness of man’s heart. The total law was customary until Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:19-21).
Even the Law was not for Israel’s salvation without faith, for faith was a prerequisite (Rom. 9:30-33). It is important to note that adults who came out of Egypt, excluding Caleb and Joshua, died for their continuous unbelief in the wilderness. Of those who came out of Egypt, it was their children who experienced the promise of entering the Promised Land (Heb. 3:16-19, Num. 26:65).
The Mosaic Covenant when identified with the giving of the Mosaic Laws, which he received, can be confusing at times (Heb. 9:1-5). These laws were not the covenant, but they provided the dispensation’s governmental rules for Israel’s economy in carrying out the contract. Both the Mosaic Covenant and the Law of Moses added to the Dispensation of Promise for Israel, and the world was to obey it at this specific time (Gal. 3:17).
The New Testament makes it quite understandable that no one can save himself or herself from sin by keeping the Law. The Law shows humanity is an incapable creation, who cannot save himself or provide the just payment necessary for salvation. Only the finished work of our LORD Jesus Christ can bring one into a reconciled relationship with God for eternity. Our LORD Jesus paid the price that no human could! Christians can go to God today knowing He is greater than the problems in their lives, for the LORD Jesus Christ is the intercessor for our sin and failures (Heb. 4:11-13, 1 Jn. 2:1-3, 1 Jn. 5:13-14. Our LORD Loves the believer and always will (1 Jn. 3).
The Mosaic Law contained new laws and revealed new Absolute Universal Laws not previously given. The revelation given was for the dispensation’s operation, the Dispensation of Promise and its fullness.
In addition, the Mosaic Law contained principles that either had been carry-over laws from earlier Dispensations or modified regulations from the former Dispensations. Remember that new laws or modifications of the rules and commandments can change in carrying out a dispensation. Here it was the Dispensation of Promise (second and third rules of the Operating Keys to a dispensation).
The Law of Moses given to the world was only a temporary guardian. It brought Israel and the world together through the events leading up to the incarnation of God. God in the flesh empowered the New Covenant operation by the gospel’s completion (Gal. 3:19-25, Jn. 1:1, 14, Phil. 2:1-11). Remember the Everlasting or Redemptive Covenant has operational events that are not dispensational. They were integral in the original giving of the covenant in eternity past (Eph. 1:1-8).
These laws within the Law of Moses were the dispensational rules for carrying out the Abrahamic and Mosaic Covenants in the economy of the Dispensation of Promise. Contained in this temporary guardianship were specific moral laws, worldwide laws, spelling out humanity’s obedience with the Ten Commandment’s rules.
God reaffirmed the Abrahamic Covenant’s perpetuation with and through the Mosaic Covenant, which He made to Abraham earlier. It was confirmed again to Abraham’s descendants that their seed would be as many as the stars in the sky. The promises would continue and be with those who came out of Egypt. The Mosaic Covenant was a continuous lifeline, a new addition to them and given to the 12 tribes of Israel, who came out of Egypt and was given at Mount Sinai (Lev. 26:42-46).
On pg. 87
Additional Truths of Moses’ Stewardship as Outlined in Genesis
Moses was the writer of the first five books of the Bible or Jewish Torah, which are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Through Moses, God outlined the events of the first three Dispensations, the Dispensation of Innocence, Conscience, and Human Government, and afterward, the beginning of the Dispensation of Promise. God used Moses to preserve the vital history of humanity by recording and condensing the recorded history of the prior Dispensations. They preserved, and reveal the Seven Operation Keys of each dispensation.
God did not elaborate on all of the events of the first three Dispensations. He did however reveal details enough for humanity to have a record of the prior Dispensations that He inspired Moses to write (God Breathed).
Moses recorded the working of the events that occurred before and during the transition. He recorded events going into the full operation of the Dispensation of Promise. The Mosaic Law and Mosaic Covenant do not represent a new dispensation. Rather, they are a continuation of the Dispensation of Promise given to Abraham (Lev. 26:42). The details recorded for the Dispensation of Promise contain all Seven Operating Principles of the Major Dispensations.
The expounding of the other nations and the world’s events and economic details are not in abundance, and not in the Bible. However, when another nation is mentioned, it is when it made contact with Israel and it relates to the pertinent information needed for reference for the Key people of the Dispensation. When history refers directly to God’s Redemptive plan and God’s Redemptive works, it mentions more details. The first three Dispensations written by Moses and recorded by Moses are in the first five books of the Bible. Moses and the Apostle Paul have some commonalities in furthering God’s revealed plan for dispensational obedience in their day.
Nevertheless, God detailed through Moses the events with Israel in the giving of the dispensational operational Laws of Moses, along with the Mosaic Covenant. Throughout his life, God worked with him, elaborating on many of the new events and details in Israel’s recorded history within the Dispensation of Promise.
On pg. 88
The Mosaic Law was new and modified laws for the Dispensation of Promise. It revealed many aspects of the relationship with humanity and with the God of heaven.
Symbolisms and types related to the Law were symbolic to heaven and earth, and encompassed humanity’s worship of God. They were symbols or models of the heavenly realm. Symbolism and types are additions to the operation and related to the First Stage of the Redemptive Covenant. However, the Law was not, better than the Covenants especially the Redemptive Covenant, our LORD came and fulfilled.
Hebrews 8:4-6: “For if He (Lord Jesus) were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain. “But now He (LORD Jesus) has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.”
All Ten Commandments are Biblical, Holy and are responsible for true love. These ten laws (second principle of a major dispensation) continued to carry forward the Redemptive Covenant, the First Stage in the dispensation operating. Their requirements are absolute moral Universal Laws (first principle of a major dispensation) they are carried forward to us and are for obedience in today’s dispensation as they were in times past.
Romans 13:8-10: “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
Biblical love is not what the world calls love. It is sacred, holy responsibility in righteousness (1 Cor. 13:1-8, 1 Jn. 2-3).
However, the Old Covenant Stage One, of the Redemptive Covenant plan was in eternity past and implemented at the fall of Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:5-15).
The Mosaic Covenant came later than the Old Covenant revealed in Genesis’ history. The Mosaic Covenant contained the covenants given to Abraham and the First Stage of the Old Covenant as it related to the Redemptive Covenant from eternity past.
The Old Covenant that was given operated within the first four Dispensations given before the Mosaic and Abrahamic Covenants. Remember the Old Covenant refers to the first stage of the Redemptive Covenant and what made it called the old covenant was its completion of the New Covenant, in stage two.
Note: Be sure not to confuse the Mosaic Covenant with the Mosaic Law. The law relates to the Dispensation of Promise. The paragraph above was speaking of the covenant, and the following will speak of the Mosaic Law as it relates to the dispensation.
Many dispensational operating rules can be found in the Mosaic Law. Some that were added were new laws, some universal laws, others are now revealed, relating specifically to the present dispensation, and others modified laws from previous dispensations, all for the dispensation of Promise.
Modified example: forbidden before Moses, was the eating of meat with the drinking of the blood of animals (Gen. 9:2-4). The Mosaic Law then gave more detail for the consumption of meat (Ex. 23:18).
Another example is clean versus unclean animals. Previously there was no restriction of eating unclean animals before Moses, other than that given in the previous dispensation with Noah (Gen. 9:2-3),but afterward, this changed (Lev. 11). Humanity was to carry out in their daily living the dispensational additions to the laws by obedient faith.
Also, the Mosaic Law gave continuation to the covenants for them in an experiential manner, and the dispensational Mosaic Law spelled out, conditional and unconditional applications according to the Nations obedience (Ex. 23:20-30, Lev. 26, Deut. 11:13-32).
Also, the First Stage was "temporary," a global operation, not completing the Redemptive Covenant's judicial legal requirement for completion, and was carried out in the dispensation by humanity (priest, prophets, and then in the Levitical Priesthood). Humanity performed a temporary responsibility until this was annulled by God's incarnation in which the New Covenant (Second Stage) was eternally completed by the incarnate God-man our Lord Jesus Christ (Heb. 6:19, 7:16, 7:18-19, 7:28, 8:7, 9:11-25, 9:23-28, 10:1, 10:4-14, 10:19-20, 12:24).
The unique hypostatic union is the combination of the divine (Spiritual) and the physical human nature in a single person, the LORD Jesus Christ, who is God incarnate. Until completion in the Old Covenant, it was weak and unprofitable. The weakness and unprofitably ended when the Lord Jesus Christ finished His work in His hypostatic union. The New Covenant implementation came with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2).
Hebrews 7:18-19: “For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.”
Hebrews 10:20: “by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,”
Remember the Mosaic Law is not the Mosaic Covenant; it revealed the heavenly symbolism, types, and laws. The Mosaic Law, with its regulations, put many eternal truths in a format necessary for humans to understand the divine.
The Old Covenant was a temporal system pointing to the incarnation and works of the Lord Jesus Christ. The benefits of the First Stage of the Redemptive Covenant can be seen in God’s imputation of righteousness to the individual; it was based also on personnel faith before our LORD’s incarnation. Individuals obedience and performance of God’s requirements was the evidence for an individual’s believing faith in Him as they looked forward to the promised redemption (Rom. 4:1-6, Heb. 11, 12:1-2, Jas. 2). The covenant is working within a dispensational setting.
Believers saved today put their faith in the Lord Jesus. Christ Jesus, our LORD, and Savior completed all the requirements needed for the Redemptive Covenant’s personal application. Faith is the confident response to the object provided by God. The provision is why faith is a gift from God freely; Jesus Christ is the object of faith providing and containing the provision (Eph. 2:8-10, Jn. 1:12, 3:16, Rom. 10:9-13, 1 Jn. 5:9-14).
The Mosaic Covenant was the promise to Moses and the Nation of Israel that God would keep His promise to Abraham. Abraham’s descendants are the chosen people of God who were to work out the Master’s plan. They received the New Covenant of the indwelling of God’s truths during the Dispensation of Promise and were to carry out the operation of the Covenant to the world (Jer. 31, Ez. 16:60-63, Ez. 36-37, Heb. 8:7-13, Eph. 1:13, Ac. 2). The New Covenant that was promised came in the Dispensation of Promise, and extends to the future Eternal Dispensation called the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time.
Hebrews 8:10: “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”
Acts 2:4: “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Note: This is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit or filling the temple of a human’s body (Eph. 1:13-14, 1 Cor. 6:19-20).
Acts 10:44–45: “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.”
Ephesians 1:13: “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.”
The Old Covenant required a temporary atonement in the form of animal sacrifices for, and until the finished work of Jesus Christ. The animal was not the covenant but was a dispensational practice requirement. It was a blood sacrifice required for the covering of sins. It was an atonement before the Lord’s incarnation and finished work (Heb. 9:22, 12:24). The Lord Jesus’ blood sacrifice completed the just requirement of God for fulfilling the Redemptive covenant (Heb. 1:1-4, 7:18-22, Eph. 1:7).
Remember, a bond covenant is not a Dispensation, and a Dispensation is not a covenant. Yet, they both have a place in God’s master plan for creation. Bond covenants are the promises God has made with humanity; some are promises to an individual, some to a nation and others to the world.
Dispensations are for all humanity. They are the operating systems that God uses to bring the covenants to completion. The bond covenants will come about as to their determined promise, and because bond covenants do not change in the Dispensations. They simply find their fulfillment in what God initially gave.Covenants are promises, and they will find fulfillment within the scope of their original formation. They have their bases in the independence and complete truthfulness of God at their creation.
Galatians 3:15, 17: “Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it.” “And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect.”
Hebrew 6:13-20: “For when God made a promise to Abraham because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you. ”And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolations, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
Dispensation (household) rules carry out the actual operation of God’s plan. They have stewards who are ordained and responsible for the process according to the Master’s program. Major Dispensations have Seven Operating Principles that move history forward from the inception of one dispensation to the next.
The Seven Operation Principles are; the universal truths and laws, new laws when a new dispensation operates, laws that are modified or carried over, stewards for the dispensation operation, failure of the dispensation operation, transition into the next Dispensation and Irreversible Punitive Judgment. A Dispensation will not change if there is no failure.
Uniquely, the Mosaic Covenant is a covenant with Moses, which God would continue His work through the families that came out of Egypt, it is given as a covenant to Moses, relating to the continuous progression of the Abrahamic Covenant with the 12 families of Jacob (Israel), and not the starting of a new Dispensation with him (Moses’ families’ descendants).
The Mosaic Law is dispensational, added to the operation of the Dispensation of Promise in carrying out the covenants.
The Mosaic Law gave new substance to the carrying out of the dispensation’s operation as it related to the Dispensation of Promise. It is essential to keep clear the differences stated above between the Mosaic Covenant (a covenant) and the Mosaic Law (dispensational) as they relates to the dispensation. The covenant and laws were given to Israel for two different reasons (Later in chapter 12 subordinate dispensations will explain why these events did not start a new Major Dispensation).
As stated earlier, the rules and laws of the Mosaic Law were given for a specific reason. Laws reveal the incapability of humanity to achieve the holiness and perfection necessary for entrance into heaven.
In comparison is the awesome victory of the Lord Jesus Christ established in the New Covenant, which was and is for all humans. Laws are good for running governments and tell you what you can, and cannot do, but they cannot transform and forgive the sinner’s heart or spirit (Tit. 3:5, Prov. 14:12, Heb. 7:11-22). The revealed laws do not change Biblical truths, their function was for running the dispensational government, and they cannot transform individuals by their existence.
The Old Covenant, the First Stage of the Redemptive Covenant, was in existence for over 3,000 years before Moses. The First Stage existed already by the time of the Dispensation of Promise, covering the first three Dispensations.
The second Stage, the New Covenant, completes the Godhead’s transformation of us, and makes us qualified for heaven. It demonstrates the overwhelming extent of the Lord Jesus Christ’s sacrifice to redeem and reconcile humans unto the Godhead for eternity (Rom. 5:10, 1 Cor. 2:6-16).
Our Lord Jesus Christ gave Himself to pay the just penalty for our sin. He fulfilled our eternal need as promised in the New Covenant (Redemptive Covenant).
The book of Hebrews describes the powerful contrast between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. It states in detail how the truths of the New Covenant, are eternally better, than the incompleteness of the redemptive plan under the Old Covenant and the dispensation. This will be expounded further, later in the chapter on the Redemptive Covenant.
The New Covenant finished the work of our Lord Jesus Christ through His birth, death, and resurrection. It is called the Gospel and it gives salvation (Heb. 1:1-11; 7:18-22).
Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”
Moses recorded God’s disappointment with the Israelites for their lack of obedience and lack of knowledge of His working (Rom. 3:1-2). The recording of Israel’s failure speaks to believers today. He is still urging us to live in appreciation for what He did, has done, and will continue to do.
As believers, we must appreciate our redemption and the uniqueness and privileges of having the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in us. We must appreciate that God put His seal on us for eternity (Eph. 1:13-14). Today the Holy Spirit intercedes for Christians convicting of sin and righteousness. He speaks to the Godhead when we are confused. He uniquely works at times for a believer when they do not know what to ask or how to express themselves (Rom. 8:1-17). All these truths of the Holy Spirit are integral to the New Covenant and to the completion of the Redemptive Covenant for humanity!
Hebrews 8:10: “I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts.”
These accomplishments are by the indwelling Holy Spirit, who is the seal living in a believer (Eph. 1:13, 1 Cor. 6:19).
2 Timothy 1:14: “That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.”
Today, we have a tremendous responsibility to be faithful in our stewardship for our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 5:14-26). Believers are to be humble when they compare and contrast their relationship before our Lord Jesus’ incarnation with His finished work of redemption.
God’s eternal love is incomprehensible. Transformed believers find no place for self-righteousness; they can only glory in the LORD’s provision. His incarnation should reveal to each of us just how much He loves us and it should motivate us to live as children in appreciation of His redemptive work.
When studying the covenants and Dispensations, Christians can and should connect with the disappointment God has with us when we willfully commit the same sins repeatedly. We need immediately to repent, and draw on the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit for victory (Prov. 20:27, Eph. 1:13, Rom. 8:12-17, Jn. 14:15-18, 25-30, 1 Jn. 2:1-3).
Ephesians 4:30: “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
Sinning is made worse by our pride and complacency as we fail to acknowledge our own inability to stop. Our failure to repent and ask for forgiveness from our Lord Jesus Christ, along with refusing to change our lives, comes from pride.
Complacency is evident when we don’t seek to change by studying and memorizing the Word of God or through local church attendance, worship, prayer, and seeking friends that are believers (Ps. 119:9, Heb. 10:22-25, Jas. 4:2-4, 2 Cor. 6:14, 1 Thess. 5:17).
James 1:5: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
1 John 1:9-10: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”
James 4:2-3: “You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”
1 John 5:14-15: “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”
1 John 2:1-2: “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”
On pg. 99
This was a “sign” covenant. See: Exodus 31:12-17.
Alongside the Mosaic Covenant, there was a “sign covenant” given called “the Perpetual Sabbath Covenant.” It is a covenant given to remind them that Jehovah was, and is the great “I Am” to the Israelites. The Perpetual Sabbath Covenants was a force covenant of obedience for them to remember (Ex. 31:12-17). Today’s dispensation, the ‘day’ is not a forced or sign practice (Col. 2:16-17).
Exodus 31:12-17: “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you. You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.”
Exodus 3:14: “And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.”
This Perpetual Covenant of the Sabbath, made at Mount Sinai, was a sign for the Nation of Israel to remember that the LORD was the ‘I AM,’ who sanctified them (Ex. 31:12-17).
This covenant is a sign for Israel forever as it calls them to remember their deliverance from Egypt by Jehovah. This covenant to Israel incorporated the universal law of rest.
Initially, the worldwide rest law given at creation, later related to the name “I AM,” who delivered Israel from Egypt. The Perpetual rest was a personal covenant given to the Nation of Israel and was to be practiced forever by the nation.
This Perpetual Day of Rest Covenant was for Israel, a sign between God and them. Though the Absolute Universal Law for the seventh day, given in Genesis is absolute for resting, and does not necessarily fall on the same day today in a seven-day increment. It does not make one more holy when one observes it on a specific day of the week.
The Apostle Paul stated that we are not to judge a person spiritually for observing the Sabbath, as the Jews were mandated. It was Different from the Sabbath Covenant given to Israel on a particular day. Note, even today we are commanded to have a day of rest and worship. The Word of God never ‘set a particular day out of seven days, only one for rest after six days of work’ to be observed.
Col. 2: 16-17, “So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship …” See also Acts 20:7, Galatians 5, Ephesians 4 and Hebrews 10:25 for observance today.
The word perpetual meaning, continuous lasting or eternal. Therefore the day was to be practiced continually by Israel in the Dispensation of Promise (Gen. 31:12-17, Ex. 31:13). Be sure to keep the covenant and the dispensational practices separate. The covenant of Sabbath then was established.
There were a number of different Rest Sabbaths for Israel and for different reasons. Each was contingent on the practice individually according to the dispensation and its fulfilment individually. The Sabbath Day Covenant keeping is an individual practice with the group of all Sabbaths. Stemming off from the Universal Absolute rule of Genesis. The Harvest Sabbath, Leviticus 23:39, the Jubilee Sabbath, the Debtor Sabbath and Land Sabbaths, (Lev. 25, 26) along with the Perpetual Sign Covenant Sabbath (Ex. 31, Lev. 23).The world outside of Israel was to have the day of rest as God ordained in Genesis 2. The purpose of The Day of Rest was for people to rest from work and worship God. In the Dispensation of Grace, the practice was continuous for the dispensations operation as ordained from creation by God.
This Covenant for Israel still exists, although the day of rest does not necessarily fall on the same day in a seven-day increment. It does not make one more holy when one observes it on a specific day of the week.
The universal Day of Rest is the next day after the six days of work; it is the seventh day (Col. 2:16, Gen. 2:3).
Note: The day of rest in Genesis was given after six days of work. It did not necessarily refer or specify a day of the ‘week’ when given. Ask yourself what day did your work begin? See also Acts 20:7, Galatians 5, Ephesians 4 and Hebrews 10:25.
Colossians 2:16: “So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,”
A day of rest is an Absolute Universal Truth that was given at creation, and that continued through the dispensation’s operation. Today Christians are not under the Levitical Sabbath and are not mandated to perform this covenant as Israel had to when it was given to them in the Dispensation of Promise.
However, Christians are commanded in their pursuit of sanctification, to worship and encourage fellow believers. Today, the seventh day of rest is a willful Absolute Universal obligational act coming from creation. It is for observance by believers and is not a covenant of force (Heb. 10:25, Col. 2:16, Gen. 1:31, 2:1-3).
Rest is an Absolute Universal Principle requiring a day of rest from work. It comes from original creation where it was given as a universal command. It did not have a calendar day associated with it. The commandment of rest given in the Ten Commandments called it a Sabbath day or seventh day of resting from work. The commandment taken from Genesis, noting it was a commandment or law and not a covenant.
The word Sabbath is derived from the verb ‘Sebat,’ meaning to stop, to cease, or to keep. Remember, the original Dispensation’s operation revelation of the day of rest is not a covenant but a Universal Law. Universal laws apply through all Dispensations.
The Sabbath Covenant came after the Ten Commandments. Additional explanations of keeping the seventh day of rest came with the instruction given in the building of the Tabernacle. Remember, God can and did add new laws during a dispensation’s operation. The laws (dispensational), of the Sabbath (a covenant), were developed by the legal system of the Jewish governing forces of the priesthood vocation.
The Sabbath Covenant of Exodus 31:12-17, was given to the Nation of Israel as stated in the Dispensation of Promise as a perpetual covenant rule, and Israel’s covenant was for them to remember the great “I AM,” on a specific calendar day. Specifically, it was the day, they were delivered from captivity and slavery in Egypt.
The exact day of the calendar is a specific dispensational rule for the Dispensation of Promise. Furthermore, Israel had more than one Sabbath. According to the yearly calendar that was not in the Mosaic Law, they have several. However, this was a dispensational observance (Lev. 16:29-34, 23:23-44, 25:1-8, 2 Chron. 2:4).
The Perpetual Sabbath Covenant relates only to the Nation of Israel and not the rest of the world. Should the Nation of Israel observe this covenant in this Dispensation? For answers on this, I recommend reading Acts 15 and Exodus 31:12-17.
If observed by the Nation of Israel, it needs commemorating in the simplest form as given to Moses. Why commemorate it? Because it is for the Jewish Nation, God’s Word says it is an additional reminder of their deliverance from Egypt forever. The Nation of Israel has a future Dispensation that reestablishes many Jewish Laws under Jesus’ Messianic Reign. Commencement of the Dispensation of the Kingdom on earth starts these memorials.
On pg. 102
See: 2 Samuel 7 and 23:1, 5.
King David received the Davidic Covenant during the Dispensation of Promise. This Covenant stated that the Nation of Israel would have a King from David’s descendants, and He would rule the Nation of Israel and the world.
Jesus was the literal fulfillment of this Covenant and the Messiah’s presence on earth will be completed in His second coming (Heb. 1:8, 8:7-12, Rev. 19).
Historically, His incarnation in the Dispensation of Promise was the fulfillment of the Godhead's plan for empowering the redemptive payment (Gal. 4:4), and not just authorizing Messiah. In addition, with the one sacrifice, He met the just legal-payment needed for humanity's redemption within the covenant (Heb. 9:11-15).
Empowered for eternity by Jesus Christ, the Redemptive Covenant fulfilled the Davidic Covenant. Jesus Christ was the prophesied descendant, He is its authorized King and Messiah (Heb. 9:12).
The Davidic Covenant will find its ultimate fulfillment or completion in the Dispensation of the Kingdom. It will be the fulfillment of his earthly rule through Messiah’s reign on earth. Jesus Christ’s millennium government on earth will begin His eternal rulership going into the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time, and will result in the creation and establishment of the New Heaven and New Earth (Rev. 11:15, 20:6, 21:1, Eph. 1:10).
Revelation 21:6: “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.”
Today, He is King, the Messiah of all humanity. We are under His divine heavenly authority, though He is not physically present here on earth (Eph. 1:20-23). Believers today are responsible for carrying out the economy according to the Mystery Dispensation of Equality (Eph. 3, 2 Cor. 5:17-23).
On pg. 103
God, the Holy Spirit, resides within believers' physical bodies, and works to fulfill the New Covenant's promises to those who are His. He makes us ambassadors to the world.
God purchased believers through the crucifixion and resurrection. He has His presence in each believer's body, and He calls it His Temple.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20: “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which is God’s possession.”
Note: The Holy Spirit is a seal from God given at Salvation. A believer’s owner is God, for He purchased him or her.
Ephesians 1:13-14: “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise; who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”
The Word of God reveals that the Holy Spirit is sealed inside a believer’s body, alongside a believer’s existing spirit. A believer’s body becomes the temple of the Spirit of God at the very moment of salvation.
God the Holy Spirit does not indwell the spirit of the believer but his body. Indwelling is an essential truth because there is a false teaching that God’s Spirit comes into a person’s spirit. This teaching is a false teaching that goes along with the false teaching or heresy teaching that at death we are absorbed into one god-spirit. Each person created is a unique person of God. However, they will remain human, just as God designed. Humans will never be God, but uniquely created from dust, yet still having a human spirit of his own that is subordinate to God.
At salvation, God transforms us in many ways. He completely forgives all our sins. Salvation makes each of us His redeemed individual children, and changes our relationship to Himself by the indwelling Holy Spirit that communicates to a believer’s spirit. Believers are no longer dead to the Spirit of God.
The Spirit of Elohim confirms and communicates to the believer today. God the Holy Spirit indwells permanently as long as a believer has life on earth, “until the redemption of the purchased possession” (Eph. 1:13-14, 2:1-10, 1 Cor. 6:20, 1 Thess. 4:13-18, 1 Cor. 15:42-49).
The Holy Spirit gives understanding and confirms God’s Word as it helps teach us His truths. Enlightenment by the Holy Spirit gives a believer’s spirit insight that goes beyond human understanding (1 Cor. 1:17-31).
1 John 2:27: “But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.”
When the Holy Spirit comes into the believer’s physical body, it does not mean the body will not die. Instead, it means God the Holy Spirit is permanently indwelling within the physical body while on earth (Eph. 1:14).
This truth is in keeping with the eternal truth God said to Adam and Eve in Genesis 2:17… “but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
At death, a human’s physical body separates from their human spirit. The believer’s spirit and soul go to be with God in heaven until the resurrection according to the time of God’s designation; then the spirit, body, and soul are reunited in a transformed body (1 Cor. 15:1-58, 2 Cor. 5:1-8, 1 Pet. 1:2-5, 2 Cor. 6-8, Ps. 146).
Our spirit becomes one in the soul (essence) when united with the body, which is the outward expression of our living existence. A believer’s soul is to live in holiness, righteousness, and is to be just (Jn. 17, 1 Cor. 6:12-20, Rom. 6, Gal. 5:16-25).
God the Holy Spirit leads a believer in obedience as they listen to Him. He also renews the minds of believers, and as they study, He applies the Word of God to their hearts (Rom. 12:1-2).
Hebrews 4:12: “For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Romans 12:1-3: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Those transformed believer’s responsibilities are described in Romans 10:9-13, 12:1-2, 2 Corinthians 3:18, and 1 John 5:9-14. The Greek word translated “Church,” means “the called-out believers” of today. Also called “His Body,” His mouth to the lost (Eph. 1:22-23, Rom. 10:14-15, 2 Cor. 5:16-21).
In addition, it is necessary to mention one more truth. Trusting it will encourage others to do God's will, and seek the truths found within a Dispensational understanding of God's plan and work.
David was a man after God's "own" heart, and God recorded this fact about him in Acts 13:20-24. Today God wants to find and educate faithful teachers and nonprofessionals in all "walks of life" in our world so they may teach His Holy Word, the Bible!
Will He find you after His own "heart," and teaching with purpose and yearning (2 Tim. 2:2)?
On pg. 107
The New Covenant as It Relates to the Nation of Israel
See: Hebrews 10:16-18 and Jeremiah 31:31–34 and Ez. 37-39.
The “Old Covenant” referred to in the book of Hebrews was in relationship to the Nation of Israel. It showed, in its destiny and laws, the changes and additions of carrying the covenant forward in the operation of the Mosaic Law and Covenant (Ex. 34:8-10, 27-28).
The “new” refers to the New Covenant, which is contrasted with the Mosaic Covenant, Abrahamic Covenants, and the First Stage of the Redemptive Covenant along with the dispensational Mosaic Laws.
The added law was in the Dispensation of Promise’s operation. It revealed the New Covenant that Christ Jesus fulfilled as being better than the Mosaic Law and the dispensations operation (Heb. 7:11-22).
Hebrews 7:18-22: “For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which I will draw near to God. And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath (for Levites have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: “The Lord has sworn And will not relent, ‘You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek”), by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant for me.”
The operational references speak of the Old Covenant referring to the operational dispensational laws of operation. These new dispensational regulations refer to after our LORD Jesus provided fulfillment by a better way, an eternal covenant.
We see here that the Covenant of Redemption’s completion in the Dispensation now applies to humanity. What our Lord Jesus fulfilled was not capable of achievement by humans.
Fulfillment could only be realized through the incarnation of God in Christ Jesus. This fulfillment is what the book of Hebrews has revealed and why the truths of our Lord Jesus Christ are best. Jesus was better than anything created or that existed under the Old Covenant's dispensational laws, even the climax of the giving of the Mosaic Law at Mount Sinai.
A. The Covenant Relationship worked out in Christ, our Lord Jesus:
Hebrews 1:4: “having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”
Hebrews 7:7: “Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better.”
Hebrews 7:22: “by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.”
Hebrews 8:6: “But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promise.”
B. The Dispensational Relationship:
Hebrews 7:19: “for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.”
Hebrews 9:23: “Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.”
Hebrews 12:24: “to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.”
Romans 10:4: “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
With the First Stage of the Redemptive Covenant and the fulfillment in the Second Stage, the covenant became implemented and active in believers with the coming of God the Holy Spirit in Acts 2. Israel and the world’s religious system were fulfilled in the New Covenant as prophesied.
With the Second Stage, the bond promises and the application of the oath became available for Israel (Heb. 8:8-10). The great news is that the participation extended equally to the rest of the world, who became recipients of the New Covenant because of Israel’s failure (Rom. 9:1-32, Eph. 2:11-22, Acts 13:44-48, 22:1-21, 28:28-29).
The fulfillment of the Second Stage of the Redemptive Covenant applies also to the Mystery Dispensation, called the Dispensation of Grace given to the world on an equal application and responsibility. The Dispensation of Grace ends with the Rapture, then God will go back to fulfilling the covenants He promised that are unique to the Nation of Israel’s leadership (Jer. 31:31, Ezek. 37-39).
The New Covenant for Israel is in addition to the other covenants promised in the Dispensation of Promise that were given to Abraham. The Nation of Israel had various bond covenants manifested in the Dispensation of Promise. The list of the bond covenants God planned in eternity past for them are as follows:
This book of Hebrews gives hope of the continuation of the original promises under the New Covenant, and it validates and authenticates all the other covenants promised to Israel.
In Hebrews 8:7-12, the New Covenant is given to the Nation of Israel. This established a renewed relationship with God and was extended to the world. It was promised to Israel that it would continue with the New Covenant in accordance with the finished works of the Lord Jesus Christ, which the book of Hebrews reveals.
When its implementation was finished, the New Covenant became available. All the promises to Israel became available for fulfillment and were incorporated along with the Second Stage of the Redemptive Covenant (Heb. 9:15).
Hebrews 8:7-9: “For if that first had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers (referring to the Abrahamic Covenant and descendants before the Mosaic Covenant) in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord.”
In review, the Old Covenant First Stage of the Redemptive Covenant was implemented back in Genesis when Adam and Eve sinned. This was planned from eternity past and was the Master Plan of the Godhead. It found completion when the First Stage, was completed with the New Covenant. Israel’s unique relationship was offered to the Nation recorded in Acts 1-7.
The Mosaic Laws additionally carried out the dispensation’s management in the Dispensation of Promise. The Mosaic Law was new, giving additional dispensational operating laws in the Dispensation of Promise, which our Lord Jesus Christ created and changed.
Jesus Christ was the completion of the requirements of the law and of the just judgment for humanity.
His fulfillment ultimately empowered the New Covenant in the Dispensation of Promise and was given to humanity. Whoever receives Him their position of righteousness is secure forever (Rom. 6:23, Jn. 1:12, 3:16, Eph. 1:13-14, 2:8-10, Ps. 103).
1 Corinthians 1:30: “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— “
Hebrews 2:14: “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,”
2 Corinthians 8:9: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.”
Hebrews 5:9: “And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,”
Hebrews 7:19: “for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.”
Hebrews 10:20: “by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,”
Romans 8:3: “For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,”
Ephesians 2:15: “having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man,”
Note: Romans 6 makes it quite understandable that believers are not to continue in sin. Death awaits everyone, and there is no benefit for sin. The practice of sin only leaves emptiness and damages us throughout our lives (1 Jn. 5:16-18, Heb. 6:7-8, 1 Cor. 3:9-17, Rom. 14:10-12).
Jesus Christ secures our eternal relationship with God. If we practice sin, we lose the benefits God wants us to have while still here on earth. Being a new creation in Jesus Christ will motivate a believer to holy living, being just, and practicing righteousness.
Believers are sinners and sometimes sin, but a true believer does not condone his sins. Instead, he turns from them as he waits for the resurrection and heaven while the non-believer faces an Eternal Irrevocable Punitive Punishment for his sins. The non-believer loses both on earth and in eternity because of his or her rejection of Christ Jesus the Lord (1 Cor. 16:22, Rom. 10:9-10, 1 Pet. 1:1-4).
1 John 1:6-19: “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us.”
1 John 2:1-2: “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father (One who speaks to the Father), Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation (appeasement) for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.”
Also see: Romans 10:9-13.
Another critical aspect of the Second Stage of redemption is the fulfillment of redemption for the Nation of Israel through the National promises to Israel (Heb. 10:16-18, Jer. 31:31–34). They will be rejoined together after the Rapture and into the Millennium reign of Jesus Christ. These bonds find the completion of the Abrahamic Promises in the Dispensation of the Kingdom (Is. 24-26).
Romans 11:20-27: “For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins,”
However, during the Mystery Dispensation, Israel’s exclusive stewardship of leadership will continue to be postponed due to the rejection by its leadership. The Dispensation today is overlaying the Nation of Israel and their personal National promises being fulfilled.
The postponing and overlaying will continue until the Lord Jesus Christ calls the believers of today’s Dispensation to be with Him forever. As we have seen, redemption was already a promise back in Genesis 3:15. It was planned in eternity past by the Godhead (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) before Adam and Abraham and it will be accomplished (Eph. 1:1-2). In the future, Israel will still receive the promises made in the Old Testament to Abraham by the covenants.
Today redeemed believers can and do learn, by the example of Israel's relationship to God, and by Israel's historical behavior, and by studying the history of their unique relationship.
God's predestined plan brought many recorded examples that have come down to every generation as God has worked with humanity. Biblical examples were for everyone living in their present eras so they could learn from Israel’s relationship with the sovereign God and to holy living as best they could.
1 Corinthians 10:11: “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”
On pg. 114
The Book of Hebrews’ explains how the New Covenant is a “better covenant.”
The book of Hebrews helps the Nation of Israel to know what happened in regards to their dispensational stewardship. Their temporary loss as a Nation was recorded in the Bible in the book of Acts. The Nation of Israel was supposed to take up the responsibility, but they refused.
They did not accept the offer to be the stewards of the world in the Dispensation of Promise. Acts 1-7 recorded how their stewardship status was lost as was their exclusive relationship. It was given to another, under a new dispensation operating, the Dispensation of Grace, accordance to God’s eternal mystery plan, planned in eternity past (Acts 28:28, Eph. 1:1-3, 3:14, Col. 1:26, Rom. 11).
This new Dispensation, the Dispensation of Grace (Equality) was hid from prior dispensations and was then revealed after the Nation of Israel's Irreversible Punitive Judgment. It was kept secret by God, and not prophesied. The Word of God calls it "a mystery" not before revealed (Eph. 3, Rom. 16:25-27, Col. 1:24-29).
Some translations translate "not before revealed," as for many "ages." The use of the word "ages" infers or leaves the impression it was in the Old Testament, but not understood. The translator intentionally uses these words, so as, not to entertain a dispensational understanding or a direct attack. Yet, the preceding is an attack on the uniqueness of dispensational knowledge in Scripture. However, if you would ask yourself what "ages" "was it known or not known," one would have to conclude that it has not been known since the creation of the world.
God has always wanted the Gentiles to be saved and during the time of the Dispensation of Promise, they could be saved, according to the dispensation operating. In the future tribulation period, the salvation of Gentiles will continue, and in the Dispensation of the earthly Kingdom, Gentiles will experience transformation, however then it will be subordinate to the Nation of Israel stewardship once more. Israel will be the institution of stewards in the tribulation period and in the Kingdom Dispensation. The Dispensation of the Kingdom is in harmony with God’s past eternal plan for Israel’s promised fulfillment (Rom. 11:11-12, 15:9-16, Eph. 2:15).
It would be helpful, making sure to understand that the mystery is the equality relationship, the new organism made up of all humanity equally.
The book of Hebrews was written to Israel and the world to show how the Nation of Israel’s historic dispensation operation relates to the New Covenant’s promises. The book of Hebrews often refers to the makeup of the Old Covenant’s existence and not the dispensation. The Old Covenant was completed and fulfilled in Christ Jesus. He achieved it in the New Covenant by His completed works of the covenant.
This New Covenant, also known as the Redemptive Covenant, was now fulfilled and available to Israel through the Second Stage of the Redemptive Covenant (Heb. 10:16-18, Jer. 31:31–34). The New Covenant extends to the whole world on an equal base in the Dispensation of Grace. The New Covenant also extends backward to Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:15). Jesus Christ fulfilled the atoning sacrifice for all Old Testament saints.
Note: The Stages and their fulfillment do not represent a dispensation operation. The stages do however show God operating within the covenant and fulfilling the Redemptive Covenant that He planned in eternity past and prophesied in Genesis 3:15. This demonstrates His working in the dispensations with the covenants throughout history to bring them to completion. Dispensations do not add or take away from the schedule of the planned Covenant that was put in place before the foundation of the earth.
The Abrahamic and Mosaic Covenants operated during the Mosaic Law in the Dispensation of Promise. The rules and laws given to Moses were the operational dispensational laws for the operation given in the Dispensation of Promise. The laws are illustrations, and types found in the First Stage of the redemption covenant works. They point to the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ as discussed in the Biblical book of Hebrews.
Furthermore, the operating rules and laws of the former Dispensations were not better than our LORD Jesus Christ. Jesus, God the Son is better than heavenly beings or “angels.” He is better than the “Abrahamic and Mosaic” covenants. His is a better priesthood than those of the “Levitical and Melchizedek,” priesthoods, and He is better than the Old Covenant “Stage One,” and a better sacrifice than “animals.” He is better than all the witnesses even though all of them are important and illustrate important points (Heb. 1:1-12, 3:1-6, 4:14-16, 5:1-11, 7:14-22, Heb. 8-9:1-5, 9:9, 9:16-23, 10:1, 11:23-29, 11:1-2, and 18-24).
The LORD Jesus Christ is better, superior to any of the Dispensations because He is above all time. He is eternal and offers eternal life to all who will receive Him as LORD. Jesus Christ was part of the triune Godhead and planned the Dispensations. The total Godhead created and planned dispensation’s operation in eternity past (Rom. 5:6-11, 6:23, 10:9-13, Jn. 3:16, 1 Tim. 2:5).
Hebrews 8:6: “But, now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.”
The Old Covenant spoken of in the book of Hebrews was passing away. It passed away because Jesus Christ was better. He fulfilled the Covenant, and now the dispensation operating rules, laws, were to change in carrying it out historically. The Redemptive Covenant does not pass away. Hebrews is showing how the First Stage of the Redemptive Covenant, experienced completion and how the operation changed.
The writer of Hebrews mentions fulfilled prophecies to Israel (as a Nation), the Abrahamic Covenant, and the Mosaic Covenant, the Davidic Covenant, and how they were incorporated into the New Covenant of Redemption. All the promises in the Dispensation of Promise came to protential final fulfillment in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 3:7-18).
Hebrews 3:1-6 talks about how Christ Jesus was better than Moses who received the Mosaic Covenant. God gave Moses a unique covenant and laws for him to provide to the 12 tribes of Israel who came out of Egypt (Deut. 29). The book of Hebrews compares Moses’ life to the redemption given to Israel by Jesus Christ. In doing this, it shows that Jesus was and is a better choice. Thus the new covenant to Israel flourishes in the New Covenant of Redemption, the Second Stage of the Redemptive Covenant, also called the Everlasting Covenant, which finds fulfillment in Christ Jesus.
It is paramount today; Israel can only be right with God through the New Covenant (Heb. 4:8-10). What they needed then and now is to accept and receive Jesus as the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).
The Hebrew writer shows that the rest for Israel that comes with accepting Jesus is better than that given by Joshua in the Promised Land. Israel had to conquer the land under the Old Covenant; however, defeating the area did not give them eternal life.
Nevertheless, the “rest” given by the Lord Jesus Christ with the New Covenant gave the receiver a relationship that allows them to an eternal rest of life forever. The eternal rest comes from the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Jn. 5:9-14). Even believers today under the Dispensation of Grace, know that our rest only comes as a gift that God freely gives. It is separate from anything we can do for ourselves.
God transforms believers, through the works Jesus Christ accomplished, and no personal actions other than the Gospel can make us righteous before God. However, as a transformed believer, the rest we experience comes by the truth of and in living in conformity with God’s Word (Eph. 2:8-10, Rom. 12:1-2, 1 Jn. 2:1-3).
The word covenant is used for the first time in the book of Hebrews:
Hebrews 7:22: “By so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.”
The New Covenant that the book of Hebrews is addressing is a guaranteed covenant of better things than the Mosaic Laws of operation that administered the Old Covenant with its priestly heritage. It is a comparison between specific aspects, aspects of the Mosaic Laws, and the Levitical priesthood administered in the Old Covenant with the New Covenant.
Remember, the Redemptive Covenant had Two Stages, but the same imputing provision of relationship provided by the Godhead was there in eternity past regardless.
However, the First Stage was before Jesus Christ finished the works of the incarnation, and the Second Stage started and was completed as a better one with the Lord Jesus Christ’s birth, life, death, and resurrection. God’s, completed sacrifice made humanity’s redemption complete and available. Thus, believers have crossed over to receive an inheritance that Jesus provided right next to God, as adopted children (Heb. 1:1-4, Jn. 1:12, Acts 20:32, 26:18, Eph. 1:11, 14, 18, Col. 1:12, 3:24, Heb. 9:15).
1 Peter 1:3-4: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,”
On pg. 119
Aspects Put Forth by the Book of Hebrews:
Jesus Christ completed the First Stage. His works are better than any dispensational law. His work was imputed righteousness in the first stage, which humanity was responsible to accept and practice, showing the individual's faith (Rom. 4:1-12; Jas. 2).
True faith in the Jehovah God of the First Stage of the Redemptive Covenant has always been paramount. First Stage believers’ visible faith was demonstrated by one's actions (Heb. 11). Even today works accompany faith after salvation, as shown by a believer's actions (Jas. 2, Eph. 2:10, 1 Jn. 2). Works do not save but they do indicate that one has changed. This is done through the outward expression of their faithful living.
It is worth taking note of the prophetic passages that refer to the priesthood's existence before the Abrahamic Covenant, Mosaic Covenants, and the Mosaic Law (Gen. 14:18-20, Ps. 110:4). Melchizedek is seen in the transition from the Dispensation of Human Government to the beginning of the Dispensation of Promise. Melchizedek's identity and lineage were not revealed in Scripture in previous Dispensations. Melchizedek’s identity and the absence of the descendants is an illustration of an eternal priesthood, one that is without beginning or end.
Melchizedek illustrates the deity of Christ Jesus, the only priest forever, who brought the better "Covenant." Our Lord is the beginning and ending for all humanity. The first and last not having "a beginning or ending." The LORD Jesus Christ is eternal.
Hebrews 8:6-13: "But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been needed for a second. Since finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah - not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put ‘My’ laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be ‘My’ people. None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know ‘Me’, from the least of them to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away."
Note: The passage is not referring to the Redemptive Covenant but the dispensational operation of the First Stage was growing old and vanishing away.
This passage says a new covenany, “not according to one made with their fathers in the day to lead them out of Egypt,” the Scripture directly connects this passage with God taking them out of Egypt (Dispensational). This refers to the Abraham Covenants (operating), and Eden’s prophecy of the incarnation of the Lord God historically (Gen. 3:15).
Hebrews 8 refers to the time before the Mount Sinai event of the covenant with Moses and the Law. While not explicitly mentioned, it refers to the institution of the Passover establishment back in Egypt, which found fulfillment in Christ Jesus.
The first phase of the Redemptive Covenant was ending with the finished working of the incarnation. It concluded with the Holy Spirit’s indwelling, the Second Stage, or the second phase of the New Covenant. Believing Jews were to identify (by baptism) with the Lord Jesus Christ and with the better and new covenant He provided!
The first covenant with Israel at this time became obsolete and vanished away as believing Jews repented of their National disobedience and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ (Is. 40:1-6, Matt. 3:1-5, Acts 2:38). The Jews’ national disobedience and their rejection of their stewardship caused the final failure of the Dispensation of Promise (Acts 7).
Clearly, Hebrews explains that this relationship was now in the New Covenant and its dispensational operation. By the time of the writing of the book of Hebrews the Nation of Israel had rejected their stewardship and the Dispensation of Grace had taken full operational authority of equality.
The old Mosaic Covenant ended, including the dispensational rule of operation for the Dispensation of Promise. God was not forsaking the children of Israel, but now their relationship had to be according to the new Dispensation of Grace (Rom. 11). Christ Jesus is the completion of the old, He is the power of the New Covenant, the mediator, and the reason for the changes (1 Tim. 2:5).
This passage, along with Romans 11, prophesies a future when Israel, as a Nation, will know the Lord. These passages refer to the future Dispensation of the earthly Kingdom when the Lord Jesus Christ will be present here on Earth as King. At that time, full fulfillment of the covenants with their promises given exclusively to Israel will be finished (Rom. 11:25-27).
The writer of Hebrews is not saying in the following verse that the Redemptive Covenant planned in eternity past had earthly services, and an earthly sanctuary. He is referring to the specific outworking (active) time of the Mosaic Laws that were added to the dispensation operation.
Hebrews 9:1: “Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service, and the earthly sanctuary.”
The Aaronic priesthood had physical objects in the dispensational practices carrying out the Mosaic Covenant such as the Ark, and manna. These are related to the Dispensational laws operating in the economy given with the covenant to Moses. The Mosaic Covenant was not the tables or the Ark. It referred to the practicing of the administration outwardly with humans.
The writer compares it with the previous verse in Hebrews 8:13, where it says of the covenant that "old is passing away" and that it "is vanishing." The Redemptive Covenant, God's plan of Redemption, does not pass away or vanish. It has an eternal guarantee that it will be fulfilled from eternity past to eternity future in the New Covenant. The covenant spoken of as being old and passing away is the one that did not fulfill God's justice that was needed for redemption and forgiveness; it only covered sin (Also, it was informing that the Mosaic Covenant was undergoing a change). The First Stage was temporary, covering over humanity’s depravity until the finished works of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Second Stage, provided a permanent eternal covering.
Hebrews 9:4: "which had the golden censer and the Ark of the Covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant."
These are all tangible items for the operation of the dispensation's administration. Again, this shows that this passage is speaking of the Mosaic Law after the receiving of the Mosaic Covenant from God, and after its implementation at Mount Sinai (Ex. 19, 32-34).
Hebrews 9:15: "And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance."
The LORD Jesus Christ is the mediator of this Eternal Redemptive Covenant (Israel’s Messiah, the King of the world). His mediation forgives all those who were under the Mosaic Covenant. The promises of Israel’s inheritance could now come to them in a literal sense.
This passage speaks the truth of Christ Jesus as being a mediator directly to the Nation of Israel. Also, the Apostle Paul shows Jesus Christ is Mediator of the Dispensation of Grace and all the following dispensations.
Christ’s office of mediation is for all who are sons of God and all who are included in His redemptive plan since Adam and Eve. There is no other equal (1 Tim. 2:5, Rom. 5). Faith was placed in Him (Elohim) alone by those believers before His finished work (the incarnation) and now all those who believe since are eternally saved (1 Jn. 5:9-14, 1 Pet. 1:3-4, Rom. 10:13, Jn. 3:16).
Hebrews 9:18: "Therefore, not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood" (see also Gen. 3:21).
Romans 3:25-31, 5:6-11, and Ephesians 1:7 show the importance of the blood of Christ concerning redemption, and the empowering of the New Covenant for all dispensations operations (Heb. 9:22) and for covenant fulfillment (Eph. 1:7). Hebrews 9:16-28 shows its connection with the Mosaic Covenant.
Hebrews 10 is full of exhortations of encouragement to all Jewish people. In its verses, God gives the facts of the promises to the Nation, and for those who accept the Lord Jesus Christ as the one who will fulfill their obligations. Therefore, salvation and forgiveness are not received by a dispensational law but by Jesus Christ. It is a gift given freely by Christ Jesus, the LORD!
Hebrews 11-13 exalts the Lord Jesus Christ in power and highlights the plan God had promised before Moses. This was a bond promise for all the saints’ whose hope is found in Jesus.
Hebrews 13:20: “Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant.” (Note: The Redemptive Covenant is called the “New Covenant, and Everlasting Covenant”).
The Chosen Nation of Israel will then be stewards of the earthly kingdom (Rev. 5:10, Ex. 19:6) and will reign on earth as priests with the Lord Jesus Christ just as God planned (1 Pet. 2:4-11, Rev. 1:6, 5:10, 20:6).
In the book of Acts, the Nation rejected its commission. However, in the future, in the Dispensation of the earthly Kingdom, the remnant, or the true Israel will once again be the primary stewards of God’s rule through kings and priests. Their leadership will begin after the Rapture once more in the prophesied transition in the seven-year tribulation and will find fulfillment in Christ’s millennial reign. Israel’s commission as the primary stewards as kings and priests will have new dispensational rules and given by King Jesus, the LORD of lords and the KING of kings.
The Book of Revelation expounds the transition into the Dispensation of the Kingdom. In it the Nation of Israel is entreated to conduct itself honorably. They are to live before other nations in preparation for the setting up of His Kingdom on the present earth (Rev. 1:5-6, 10, 20, 2:2, 9, 14, 20, 24-28, 3:4, 7-9, 21). Be sure to study the chart on the book of Revelation.
In Revelation 20:4-6, the saints who were martyred in the tribulation will be priests of God and Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years (Rev. 2:7, 8-11, 17, 25-29, 3:4-6, 7-13, 20-22). In Rev. 21:24, the nations of those saved will walk in the Lamb’s light (in Christ). The rulers of the earth will bring glory and honor as they appear before the Lord in the New Jerusalem.
Today’s Dispensation believers are equally special to God (Tit. 2:14). Still, the Nation of Israel does hold a relationship that is unique to them because of the promises, made to and through Abraham and Moses (Rom. 9:22-33, 11:1-27).
Today we have a spiritual relationship to Israel that believers participate in with the hopes and covenant by faith in the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ. In addition, other shared spiritual promises are positional, according to the Dispensation of Grace, which was a mystery of full equality.
The promises and covenant will be fulfilled to us after the Rapture, however for now all believers must receive the promised oneness in Christ Jesus. All believers will have a responsibility in the future millennial reign. Believers will be reigning here on earth with Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:11-13, 1 Thess. 5:6, 2 Thess. 2:6, Jn. 17).
1 Cor. 6:2-4: “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge?”
The Absolute Universal Principles of "faith towards God," and "blessings of obedience" never change. All humanity is accountable no matter what Dispensation they are living.
Individual Jews living today are responsible for living in accordance to the dispensational economy of equality. When the Rapture occurs, the believing Jews go with it, ending the Dispensation of Grace as the world goes into the refining of Israel and the Irreversible Punitive Judgment of the tribulation period.
After the Rapture, our Lord will save anyone, both Jew and Gentile, whoever will receive Him as Lord and Savior. The only exception will be those who rejected the message before the Rapture will be eternally lost.
Believing Jews, during the tribulation period will be stewards according to God’s eternal program, including in the tribulation transition, and then continuing into the Kingdom on earth, the Dispensation of the Kingdom (1 Thess. 5:1-11, 2 Thess. 2). This book speaks to the Nation of Israel after the Rapture and reassures them to turn to the Messiah, Jesus the LORD. They are to take-up the stewardship as chosen stewards of God!
On pg. 126
The New Covenant reveals the links connecting the promises of the former economy to Israel and those that become applicable to the New Organism. The New Organism is called the Body of Christ. It is the church of today, which is within the Dispensation of Grace (Eph. 2). The New Covenant (the fulfillment of Redemptive Covenant also called the Everlasting Covenant) make this relationship a reality (Eph. 2:12-13, 14-17).
On pg. 127
The Eternal Covenant of the redeemed, the New Heaven, New Earth, with New Jerusalem, God’s Holy city, is complete and fulfilled in the Bride of the Lamb’s marriage. The Bride is not exclusive to the Dispensation of Grace. The Church called His Body is part of the collective family of God. The Word of God clearly states that the holy city Jerusalem from above is the mother of all the redeemed (Gal. 4:26). It is the City of God (Ps. 46:4, 48:1, 8, Heb 12:22, Rev. 3:12, 21:2, 10, 23, 22:19).
All the inhabitants will be those who were redeemed and transformed by the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The marriage feast of the Lamb is when heaven and earth become one under the Godhead. It is when all united believers are redeemed together with the Lamb. This celebration of the eternal state will be gloriously joyful (Rev. 22:16-17, Matt. 22:1-14, 25:10).
The New Jerusalem is described as being filled with all saints of all the Dispensations. It will be adorned as the Bride of Christ (Rev. 21:2, 9-10). The Bride of Christ is the Holy City coming down from heaven to unite with humanity on the New Earth (Rev. 21:10-11). God will join with humans in the marriage of the New Jerusalem with the New Earth.
The New Jerusalem is the Tabernacle and is where God abides (Rev. 21:3, Is. 4:6, 16:5, 33:20, Amos 9:11, Acts 15:16, Heb. 8:2, Rev. 15:5, Ps. 15:1, 43:3, 46:4, 61:4). With this marriage consummated, there will be no more death, sorrow, or crying or pain. God will wipe away all negative tears (Rev. 21:4-5).
At that time when God will sit on His throne in the New Jerusalem, and He makes all things new. Some important things to consider about this are as follows:
The foundations of the wall are adorned with all kinds of precious stones. Details about the foundation where the names of the 12 Apostles are can be found in Revelation 21:14. Here is more information about the stones:
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On pg. 136
Chapter 4
Chapters Forward / Goals - Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12.
Some Bible scholars have based their full understanding of Scripture on the Redemptive Covenant alone and have failed to accept a dispensational understanding of Scripture.
The Redemptive Covenant is the most essential and highest covenant in all of Scripture. However, those who base their complete schematic on this covenant have missed the definition and Operating Mechanics of a dispensation’s function.
Redemption defined – The cost of paying for an object (regaining or gaining possession). The Lord Jesus Christ paid the cost to redeem anyone who will come and accept Him. The redemption cost was paid and the receiver is guaranteed by God eternal life and forgiveness of all sin. It is received individually by who-so-ever (Jn. 1:1, 12, 14, 3:16, Eph. 1:4, 7, 2:8-9, Rom. 5:6-11, 10:9-13, 1 Cor. 6:20, 1 Jn. 5:9-13, Ps 103).
This chapter describes the importance of the Redemptive Covenant. Those who approach Scripture through the lens of the Redemptive Covenant will notice only two operating dispensations. As such, they call dispensational elements as covenant and the reverse; they miss the full definition and working mechanics of the Major Dispensations. Chapters six through eleven expound further about the Seven Keys to the Operating System of a Major Dispensation and their characteristics.
The Redemptive Covenant is also called the "Eternal Covenant" or the "Everlasting Covenant." It has two Major Stages. The First Stage refers to the Old Covenant before Christ Jesus. The Second Stage refers to the New Covenant after the LORD's incarnation. As explained already, both when taken together comprise the one Redemptive Covenant at different periods of history.
The two Stages represents the fulfillment of our Lord Jesus' finished works of redemption for all eternity. The Second Stage completed the finished work of God’s incarnation, His death, burial, resurrection, including also along with the indwelling implementation of the Holy Spirit in believers. This completes the spiritual need for a man or woman for eternity (Jn. 1:1, 14, Acts 2).
The Redemptive Covenant was prophesied in Genesis 3:15. The first reference in Scripture is Genesis 9:16 where it is called the Everlasting Covenant in the Dispensation of Human Government. It was called the Everlasting Covenant when given to Noah, and revealed along with the Rainbow Sign Covenant. God's completion of the Redemptive Covenant began in the incarnation. It was finished for eternity in the works of the Lord Jesus Christ (Heb. 13:20). The application of the finished Covenant, continues now and throughout eternity (Gen. 9:16, 17:7, Ps. 111:9, Heb. 9:15, 13:20, Eph. 1:14, 1 Pet. 1:3-4).
Before going through the historical movement of the Redemptive Covenant, the wording “the old covenant” needs clarification. Whenever we read the words Old Covenant, one must ask if the passage of Scripture is describing the event of the Old Covenant from eternity past, or the old covenant wording from the time of the giving of the Mosaic Covenant and Law.
It is important not to be confused by the terms written in the book of Hebrews, i.e. confusing the old covenant with the Redemptive Covenant exclusively. There are times when the term old covenant refers to the Mosaic Covenant, Mosaic Law, and Abrahamic Covenant together and there are times when it is used in relationship with the Redemptive Covenant. When the book of Hebrews uses the wording, the old covenant, it can relate to the chosen people Israel in references to their preservation and promises (Hebrews 8:6-12.).
Hebrews shows how the Redemptive Covenant interrelates with the integration of the covenants with Israel (Is. 52, Ps.19:14, 78:35, Is. 43:6, 44:24, Lk. 1:68, Gal. 3:13, 1 Pet. 1:18). The Redemptive Covenant Stage One also called the Old Covenant. The Old Covenant refers to the Redemptive Covenant before the LORD Jesus Christ finished Redemption's completion. The Old Covenant implementation began when Adam and Eve sinned (Gen. 3:15, 21-24). The Redemptive Covenant, Stage one called the Old Covenant is comprised of two events. This first was that it was planned and designed in eternity past before creation by the Godhead (Eph. 1:4, 2 Tim. 1:9, Tit. 1:2). The second event involved the implementation when Adam and Eve sinned (Gen. 3).
The Mosaic Covenant was given to Moses when God was about to destroy the tribal families at Mount Sinai. Moses interceded for them, imploring God to continue to work through them, and not to start over with him in order to fulfill the Abrahamic Covenant.
This Mosaic Covenant stated that God would continue working His plan through the twelve tribal families that came out of Egypt. Thus, it was a bond covenant with Moses to maintain the promises made to Abraham that the twelve families would still be the recipients (Ex. 33-34, Lev. 26:44-46).
Within the Abrahamic Covenant was God's promise to have the Savior come through Abraham's offspring (Gal. 3:16, Gen. 17:19). Both the Mosaic Covenant and Abrahamic Covenants have a part within the fulfillment of the Redemptive Covenant. They operated in the dispensation and were given in the First Stage of the Redemptive Covenant in the Dispensation of Promise. The Mosaic Covenant shows a continuation with the twelve families of the descendant of Abraham. The Mosaic Covenant was unique to the time at Mount Sinai.
Before we learned that, the Redemptive Covenant is neither the Mosaic Law nor the Mosaic Covenant. The Mosaic Law details the dispensational responsibility of stewards in the operation of the Dispensation of Promise. The Mosaic Laws added new laws given for the dispensation’s functioning or operation (Gal. 3:19-25). New rules that are added to a dispensation operation are for the functioning, they are the Key Operating Rules in a functioning dispensation (see chapters 6 through 11 for more information).
The Mosaic Laws modified the dispensational operation with its symbolism, types, and laws, which gave an understanding of the heavenly existence as it operated in the dispensation. The Mosaic Law included the Levitical priesthood and contained practices for worshipping God along with the statutes for setting up their kingdom (Heb. 8:4-5, 9:19).
The Mosaic Law revealed the heavenly in a form Israel and others could understand. The Mosaic Law was a temporal guardian. All of it pointed to the incarnation and future workings and fulfillment of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Redemptive Covenant.
Along with the Mosaic Law came an orderly worship system for the expressed purpose of cultivating fellowship with Jehovah God during the Dispensation of Promise. The Mosaic Law did provide the means for both the Nation of Israel and Gentile Nations to have fellowship with God. However, Gentiles were to be subordinate to Israel in order to participate in a relationship with God.
Because of Israel’s failure, the Dispensation of Grace overlaid the Mosaic Covenant relating to the 12 families of the Nation of Israel. The overlay began the transition when the Nation of Israel rejected their stewardship at the end of Acts 7. The recorded transition was completed by Acts 28:28 with Paul’s announcement, “Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!”
In history, the transition to the full operation of the Dispensation of Grace ended with the destruction of the Jewish Temple in AD 70. Thereafter, the Dispensation of Grace took complete control over humanity and the Dispensation of Promise came to a final close.
The Dispensation of Grace will continue until the Rapture. The Dispensation of the Kingdom in infancy will start after the Rapture, during the period called the Tribulation period. This will be the refining time and preparation of Israel for our LORD’s physical return ending the Tribulation period. His return will come, and the Messiah will be on the earthly throne of David and the full operation of the Millennial Kingdom operating (Rom. 11:26-26, Is. 44:1-5, 22-23, Is. 42. 1-10, Gen. 17, 48:4, Ex. 19:6, Ps. 105, Is. 45:4, 7, 11, 17, 25, 51:11, 16, Is 60, Jer. 31, 32:36-44, Ezek. 16:60, 37:26).
On pg. 140
The following information gives the Biblical details of the Redemptive Covenant. Stage one covers the historical time from eternity past, through the Nation of Israel to its application to non-Jewish people in the New Testament.
Stage one of the Redemptive Covenant was implemented in the Garden of Eden. The Redemptive Covenant was also called the “Old Covenant” (Gen. 3:6-11, 21). The Promised Seed that was revealed prophetically was for the first time introduced in the Dispensation of Innocence (Gen. 3:15).
The First Stage covers the time from the Dispensation of Innocence through the Dispensation of Promise. This Stage runs up to the implementation of the New Covenant that occurred after Christ’s resurrection and ascension and the giving of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1-2).
The implementation is where the Second Stage took full authority for humanity’s redemption to those who receive it by accepting the Lord Jesus Christ. However the Redemptive Covenant was planned in eternity past by the Godhead before the creation of time and the universe (Eph. 1:4, 2 Tim. 1:9, Tit. 1:2, Heb. 1:2).
The Redemptive Covenant was mentioned along with the Noahic Covenant during the full operation of the Dispensation of Human Government.
Genesis 9:16: "Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant, (Redemptive Covenant) between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth."
The Everlasting Covenant is a reiteration of the promise made in Genesis 3:15. The Lord Jesus Christ completed the promise of Genesis 3:15. His accomplishment was full redemption for all who accept Him as their Savior!
On pg. 141
The Relationship with Abraham
The Covenant started and passed through Adam, Noah, Shem, Abraham, and the virgin Mary, who gave birth to the Lord Jesus (Matt. 1:1-17, Lk. 3:23-38, Gal. 4:4-5).
While stage-one already existed, its stewardship was given to Abraham for the Nation of Israel. The Redemptive Covenant’s posterity that was mentioned was prophetic within the Abrahamic Covenant. The Everlasting Covenant or Redemptive Covenant was passed down through Abraham, to his descendants, and eventually to Christ Jesus. God said to Abraham, “The-Lord-Will-Provide” (Gen. 22:14).
Genesis 17:7: "And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you."
Genesis 22:18: "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."
Galatians 3:16: "The promises were spoken to Abraham and his seed. Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed meaning one person, who is Christ."
Genesis 12:3: speaking to Abraham, "And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
Abraham received additional covenants along with the Redemptive Covenant. It was promised to be everlasting for him and his descendants, and yet none of these covenants altered the others; they only gave additional benefits to the recipients. The Abrahamic Covenant included the Covenant of Seeds, the Covenant of Circumcision, the Kingdom Covenant, the land called the Palestinian Covenant, and the Covenant to the World. The Abrahamic Covenant included:
Abraham has a special Eternal Relationship to God (Gen. 12:1-3, Gen. 15, 17).
“And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
Abraham was between seventy-five and ninety-nine years of age when he received the promises during the progressive historical period of faith (Gen. 12:1-7, 14:14-16, 15:4-7, 17:1-27, Rom. 4:11-16, Jesus Himself and Gal. 3:16).
Genesis 12:3: “And so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
On pg. 143
First, the Redemptive Covenant was extended to the world through the Abrahamic Covenant.
Genesis 12:3: “I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
This atoning power's requirement under the Redemptive Covenant did not change for humanity. They still needed a blood sacrifice, along with trust, and faith-based commitment to God's mercy and grace. These requirements remained integral to the Redemptive Covenant; nothing was added or removed from the original plan of the Godhead during Stage One of the Redemptive Covenant (Heb. 9:22, Eph. 1:12, 13, 2:8-9, Heb. 11:6).
With the Dispensation of Promise and the giving of the Abrahamic Covenant, God changed the stewardship from the former Dispensation of Human Government to Abraham and his descendants (Gal. 3:23-29). This change in stewardship is one of the Operational Seven Guiding Rules of a dispensation’s operation when it changes to a new Dispensation. As the steward in the Dispensation of Promise, Israel was to carry the message out and proclaim the offer of the Redemptive Covenant to the world!
By faith, the Nation of Israel and the non-Jewish people (Gentiles) were required to obey the revealed governing rules of the Dispensation of Promise given by God (Heb. 10, 11:30-39, Rom. 4:5-8).
The non-Jewish world was required to observe the Redemptive Covenant and other covenants per the specific rules of exercising faith given in the operational rules for the Dispensation of Promise. The covenant contracts were both for Israel’s well-being in its stewardship, and the Gentile’s blessings as they related to the God of Israel (Heb. 10:38, 11:13-16).
Genesis 12:2: “And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing.”
The changing of the dispensations began with the sin at the Tower of Babel and with Abram's call. Thus, the transition commenced from the Dispensation of Human Government to the Dispensation of Promise. This transition continued through Israel's 40 years in the wilderness. The events recorded in Scripture of the last carryover person Balaam, a corrupt Gentile prophet of God ended the transition from the Dispensations of Human Government (Numbers 22). After Balaam, the Bible became silent on all of the stewards or spiritual leaders of the previous Dispensation of Human Government.
Second, the Redemptive Covenant allowed Gentiles to join the Jewish Community. Individual Gentiles from the other nations who became believers joined the Jewish Nation through spiritual belief. Some became integrated into the Jewish Nation community such as Rahab and Ruth. The rest of the nations were to live alongside the Nation of Israel in peace, and were to be a blessing to the Jewish Nation.
Third, Gentile men who believed in Jehovah God of Israel were to be circumcised, to demonstrate they had subordinated their allegiance to the Nation of Israel’s faith and covenants. As the Nation of Israel developed, all believing Gentiles could enter the Court of the Gentiles in the Temple to worship and learn. Gentiles were to live in harmony and peace with the Nation of Israel.
Gentile proselytes were required to appear in Jerusalem three times a year after their conversion to Israel’s faith and covenants. These proselytes were present for the celebration of the Day of Pentecost (Ac. 2:5-12, Ex. 12:48-49, 23:14-17, Lev. 24:22, Num. 9:14).
An Ethiopian eunuch was already saved before the Dispensation of Grace became entirely, operational. His salvation occurred under the Old Covenant (during the First Stage of the Redemptive Covenant).
Furthermore, the Ethiopian eunuch was in proper relationship to the Nation of Israel, as shown by his appearing in the Court of the Gentiles at Jerusalem. This was one of the required trips they were to take three times a year according to the Dispensation of Promise’s rules.
When Philip explained the passage of Isaiah that the Ethiopian eunuch was reading, he believed the Gospel message about Jesus Christ. He identified himself with Christ Jesus in his water baptism (Acts 8:27-40, Is. 53, Gen. 17:12-13, Ex. 12:48-49, Is. 55:5 and 56).
How do we know the Ethiopian was a believer under the old covenant? He was on his way home from Jerusalem; he had the book of Isaiah with Him. He did not question Philip but accepted his explanation willingly and took action as a faithful proselyte.
Fourth, with the Redemptive Covenant, Israel had a stewardship responsibility to non-Jewish people. Each person in the Nation of Israel participated in the Stewardship Institution to the world and was to be a steward of the Redemptive Covenant (or the Old Covenant, the First Stage) (Ex. 22:21, 23:9).
Redemption was the eternal plan God desired because of His love for His creation. He made and prepared it for humanity’s before time began. He planned the use of stewards in dispensation operations at the beginning when He created the plan.
God’s incarnation in Jesus completed and made the just payment needed for redemption’s completion (Matt. 1:22, Heb. 1:1-4). The Nation of Israel was the institutional steward in His plan for this Dispensation.
According to the Dispensation of Promise, Israel failed to fulfill its responsibility, as described in the Biblical accounts. Their failures brought the Nation’s chastisement and judgments that eventually ended with the Irreversible Punitive Judgment on the Nation.
God knew failure would happen so He prepared in eternity past for the next steps in the dispensational operation schematic. Failures revealed through Scripture are messages given to humanity that apart from Him, humanity will fail in their endeavors to have everlasting life.
The Irreversible Punitive Judgment would finish with the completion of the 70th week of Daniel's prophecy, also called "Jacob's Trouble" or "the seven-year Tribulation Period."
Within the future Tribulation, the Nation of Israel will experience a purge, resulting in repentance and salvation of a remnant of God's chosen people, who turn to the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ (Is. 1:9, Jer. 31:7, Joel 2:23, Is. 25:8-9). This remnant from the Jewish Nation will proclaim the truth of redemption to the world after the Rapture (Is. 10:20-23; Jer. 23:3-6, Rom. 9:26-29, Rev. 7, 14).
Following the Rapture, God will fulfill His prophetic program, as foretold through this remnant, the real Nation of Israel (Zeph. 3:8-13, Rom. 9:26-29).
Non-believing Jews and all other nonbelievers of the world will be punitively judged. They die by the end of the Tribulation or in The Battle of Armageddon. This Battle will end the Tribulation period and the transition into the Dispensation of the Kingdom (the millennial reign of Christ). This Battle will end the Tribulation period and the transition into the Dispensation of the Kingdom. The full operation of the reign of Christ will takes place.
Note: The Battle of Armageddon will occur at the end of the seven-year Tribulation transition, and The Battle of Gog and Magog will happen at the end of the 1,000 years (Rev. 16:15-20, cf. 20:7-10).
Going into the Dispensation of the Kingdom, Jesus the Lord says in the Gospels to the Nation of Israel, “many, I tell you, will try to enter the Kingdom, and will not be able to” (Matt. 7:13-14). During the time of the Dispensation of the Kingdom, the Gentile nations must be obedient. Their obedience is prescribed in the Abrahamic Covenant and in their acceptance of the leadership of Christ Jesus. The Nation of Israel formed at this time accepts Christ. This believing remnant, coming out of the tribulation period that endured through the tribulation and The Battle of Armageddon will then reign with Him in their natural bodies (Is. 60).
On pg. 147
The Movement of the First Stage to the Second Stage
First, in the Dispensation of Promise, First Stage of the Redemptive Covenant, God chose to have a unique relationship with the people of Israel. They were to carry the Covenant and their uniqueness over into the Second Stage (Deut. 4:37, 7:6, 10:15, 14:2, Ps. 105:6).
Psalm 135:4: “For the Lord has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel for His special treasure.”
Second, during the Dispensation of Promise, the lives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were in Stage 1 of the Redemptive Covenant (Gen. 17:19 to 35:10, 49:33).
Third, Egypt and the sojourn of the Israelites, and their subsequent deliverance, occurred during the Dispensation of Promise in the First Stage of the Redemptive Covenant (Gen. 42:1 to Ex. 14:30).
Fourth, the Mosaic Covenant and Mosaic Law, given in The Dispensation of Promise, embodied the operating rules of the First Stage of the Redemptive Covenant.
The Mosaic Covenant was instituted to preserve God’s integrity for the deliverance of the 12 tribes of Israel from Egypt (Ex. 32:11-16 and chapter 34). By Moses’ admonition to keep God’s dealings with the 12 families, God chose not to start over with Moses to fulfill the covenants promised to Abraham, and instead kept His plans for Israel intact (Ex. 32:7-11).
The Mosaic Law was added to give the Nation of Israel a blueprint for governing and obedience during the Dispensation of Promise (Gal. 3:15-21).
The Mosaic Law given to Moses contained the rules establishing the Kingdom dispensationally, laws for a worship system, civil obedience, and moral living. However, the people would not keep them because of the sinfulness of their heart (Ex. 19:1 to Lev. 1-27, Num. 1-36).
The Mosaic Law included some of the laws from the previous Dispensation. It gave new-laws and modified-laws from the earlier dispensations’ operation, and revealed new Absolute Universal Laws not previously revealed.
Examples of modified laws are the eating of the designation of clean and unclean animals (Gen. 8:20, 9:3). They were forbidden to eat unclean animals. Modified laws from previous dispensations operation and animal sacrifices help us understand this key (Gen. 7:2, 8).
All of these laws are consistent with the first three Operational Guiding Principles of a Major Dispensation. Included in the fourth Guiding Operational Principle were the stewards who administered the Dispensation. Their administration was according to God’s sovereign, eternal plan. They were to obey the laws in establishing a Godly Nation. This helped move the Redemptive Covenant forward in the First Stage and towards Jesus Christ’s birth, life, death, and resurrection, and until the implementation of the Second Stage at Pentecost.
Fifth, chastisement of the Israelites in the wilderness happened during the Dispensation of Promise in the First Stage of the Redemptive Covenant (Num. 13-27 to Deut. 1-34).
Sixth, conquest of the land promised to the Jewish Nation was one of the events that brought to fulfillment the covenants given to Abraham under the Dispensation of Promise (Josh. 1-24).
Seventh, the period of the Judges continued the establishment of Israel’s position in an earthly Kingdom that led to the rule by an earthly king (Jud. 1-21, Ruth 1-4, Esth. 1-10, 1 Sam. 1-8).
Eighth, Saul, Israel’s first king, rose to power during the time of the earthly Kingdom operating during the Dispensation of Promise. Also, under the First Stage of the Redemptive Covenant (1 Sam. 8 to 2 Sam. 24, Ps. 1 to 150, Prov. 1 to 31, 1 Chron. 1, 2 Chron. 10, 1 Kings 1 to 12).
Ninth, the Nation of Israel’s Kingdom was divided into two Kingdoms during the Dispensation of Promise (2 Chron. 10-36, 1 Kings 12 to 2 Kings 25).
Tenth, the Dispensation of Promise operated before, during, and after the captivity of the 12 tribes of the Northern and the Southern Kingdoms (Dan. 1 to 12, Ezra 1 to 10, Neh. 1 to 13).
Note: As of today, none of the 12 tribes of Israel has fully returned from captivity as one Nation. However, they will unite when the Dispensation of the Kingdom begins (the sixth Dispensation). It will occur during the tribulation period after the Rapture. The Bible says that 144,000, Jewish Chosen people will be designated as witnesses for God. This demonstrates the uniting of the 12 National families again as recorded in the book of Revelation 7.
Eleventh, the Dispensation of Promise continued when the Northern Kingdom tribes were taken into captivity. This started the Times of the Gentiles. The Times of the Gentiles will continue through the seven-year tribulation (2 Kings 1 to 17, Is. 27, Lk. 21:24). It ends with The Battle of Armageddon.
Twelfth, the captivity of the Southern Kingdom tribes is a continuation of The Time of the Gentiles during the Dispensation of Promise (2 Chron. 36, 2 Kings 25).
Thirteenth: The Times of the Gentiles started with the captivity of the Northern and Southern Kingdom tribes. It runs through two Dispensations: the Dispensation of Promise and the Dispensation of Grace. It ends with the seven-year Tribulation period with The Battle of Armageddon:
a) The first coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in human form occurred during the Times of the Gentiles during the Dispensation of Promise (Jn. 1:1, 14).
b) The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John record the historical events in the lives of the Israelites during our LORD’s first coming to earth. Activities during the Gospel books occurred during the Times of the Gentiles under the Old Covenant, or the First Stage of the Redemptive Covenant during the continuation of the Dispensation of Promise (2 Cor. 4:1-6, 1 Cor. 15).
c) The birth, life, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ along with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, completed the requirements of the First Stage that empowered the Redemptive Covenant (Matt. through Acts 2). Still this was in the Dispensation of Promise (Mk. 7:24-30, Lk. 2:1-7, 21:24, Jn. 1:12, Ac. 1:6-8, 10:1-47, Rom. 1:16, 11:1-11). The Second Stage implementation of the Redemptive Covenant occurred with the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2 (Ac. 1:4-5, Jn. 16:5-15, Matt. 3:11).
d) Completion of the atonement occurred during the Times of the Gentiles and continues through the Dispensation of Grace. The period of Gentile oppression ends at the end of the Tribulation with The Battle of Armageddon.
The First Stage of the Redemptive Covenant completes fulfillment historically at Acts two with the permanent indwelling of God the Holy Spirit. Continuing the Dispensation, the Dispensation of Promise continues operating into the Second Stage until Acts 7.
On pg. 151
The Second Stage of the Redemptive Covenant in Detail:
First, the Redemptive Covenant of the Second Stage, or the New Covenant, was implemented at Pentecost and began the process whereby the Holy Spirit permanently indwelt into believers. The Gospel was now to be proclaimed to the world within the dispensation. This took place within the Times of the Gentiles, and the Dispensation of Promise (Gal. 4:4, Acts 1 to 7).
The Dispensation of Grace is part of the Times of the Gentiles. It includes the spiritual continuation of chastisement on Israel. Because of the Nation of Israel’s rejection of its position of leadership, God revealed a Mystery Dispensation called the Dispensation of Grace (Acts 1-7, 28:28, Eph. 3:1-3).
Today’s dispensation overlays God’s finishing of the punitive judgment on the Nation of Israel that was prophesied to happened at the end of the Dispensation of Promise (Is. 2:12, 13:6-9, Joel 1:15, 2:1-31, 3:14, Deut. 4:30, Zeph. 1:1, 1:15, Dan. 12:1, 9:24-27, Jer. 30:7, Matt. 24:21, 25:31-46, 1 Thess. 5:2).
The Dispensation of Grace’s overlay is the Irreversible Punitive Judgment on the Dispensation of Promise continuation. It will be completed at the mystery Rapture, which will institute the beginning of the Irreversible Punitive Judgment on the nonbelievers, including Jews who are left behind from the Dispensation of Grace (Rom. 16:25, 1 Cor. 2:7, Eph. 3:3, 3:9, Col. 1:26, 1 Thess. 4:13 to 5:11).
Then the seven-year Irreversible Punitive Judgment is on the non-believers from the Dispensation of Grace. The Times of the Gentiles will end with the completion of The Battle of Armageddon ending the Tribulation period. The transition into the earthly reign of Christ starts at the completed Rapture and the salvation of the remnant Israel.
Bible teachers have taken the phrase “the Times of the Gentiles” from Luke 21:24. This period lasts from the time of Israel’s Captivity to The Battle of Armageddon. It will end when Christ Jesus comes for the second time to earth. This will begin the full operation of the Dispensation of the Kingdom, the Millennial Reign of Christ (Is.27, Rev. 20).
God’s Redemptive Covenant works through all events, for it is an Eternal Covenant completed by our Lord Jesus Christ; that is why it is called an Everlasting Covenant (Gen. 9:16, Heb. 13:20, Eph. 1:4, 2 Tim. 1:9, Tit. 1:2, Rom. 8:18-25).
Our Lord Jesus Christ will descend from heaven in His second physical appearance on earth that will conclude the Gentile’s rule and oppression over the Nation of Israel (Lk. 21:23-25).
At our Lord Jesus’ appearing, He will usher in the full operation of the Dispensation of the earthly Kingdom, and He will sit on the throne of David to begin His earthly reign in the Millennial Kingdom. The Gospel, the Redemptive Covenant, or New Covenant, will still be in effect for those born during the Dispensation of the Kingdom.
Second, the fulfillment of the First Stage of the Redemptive Covenant came to an end at Pentecost. Positionally all believers have redemption spiritually and will be completed in their death and resurrection (Eph. 1:13-14, Rom. 6:5, 2 Cor. 5:1).
However, the Dispensation of Promise continued fully into the Second Stage until Acts 7. Then transitions through the Acts period and ends at Acts 28 and historically at AD 70.
Acts 7, the Dispensation of Promise is decreasing and the Dispensation of Grace is increasing in authority and its fullness. Both dispensations are in transition and responsible to proclaim the gospel of Christ Jesus the LORD.
The First Stage was the first part of the Redemptive Covenant before completion. Now because of the LORD Jesus Christ’s fulfillment of the eternal requirements of God’s justice for believers forever, we can understand why the Redemptive Covenant is also called the Everlasting Covenant (Heb. 13:19-21, Jn. 3:16, Rom. 3:24-26, Gen. 9:16).
Completion started with the birth (incarnation) of the Lord Jesus (Gal. 4:4-6) and His earthly work ended with His ascension. His incarnation brought the Second Stage of the Redemptive Covenant to completion and made it operational (Acts 1 to 2). The actual implementation of the Second Stage was at Acts 2 when God the Holy Spirit came to indwell within believers upon their accepting the Gospel message at Pentecost.
God planned that the stewardship offer was first to the Nation of Israel. This offer began in the first seven chapters of Acts, provided they would repent and receive Jesus Christ as their Messiah and Savior. Acts 1 through 3 recorded this proposition to the Nation of Israel and the extension of their stewardship as chosen people of God until Acts 7.
Third, the presentation of the New Covenant in Acts 2 in the form of the offer to the Nation of Israel did not constitute a new dispensation until the Nation of Israel rejected the Holy Spirit in the dispensation (Acts 1 to 7, 2:14-40, 3:11-26).
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit had to occur before rejection could happen; one cannot reject somebody or thing before it is given. Implementation of the New Covenant came with the permanent indwelling of God the Holy Spirit. The indwelling Holy Spirit was integral to the Redemptive Covenant fulfilled by God the Son.
The overlay on the Nation of Israel did not happen until the end of Acts 7. Their final sin was by their leaders actions in Acts 7 when they rejected the Holy Spirit. Their sin can be seen in the response to the message of Stephen when he was stoned. Ultimately, the Nation of Israel lost its stewardship status. The Irreversible Punitive Judgment for their Nation and Dispensation came when they rejected God the Holy Spirit, whom Stephen represented.
Their failure would have caused the transition of the prophesied seven-year Tribulation to begin (Acts 2:19-21) and it would have ended with the Irreversible Punitive Judgment of The Battle of Armageddon. However, this transition did not take place.
Instead, God started a Mystery Dispensation along with a Mystery Transition. This Mystery Transition brought the Dispensation of Grace and Equality into operation for all humanity. It began with Israel’s sin of the rejection of the Holy Spirit (Acts 7).
The Nation of Israel’s rejection of the Holy Spirit under the Redemption covenant (the Second Stage of the New Covenant) caused a Mystery Dispensation to overlay Israel’s position. The completion of the offer to the Nation of Israel’s inheritance, promised to Abraham, resulted in postponement and Israel’s oppression by the Gentiles continued.
Luke 21:24: “and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”
Thus, with the destruction of their Temple in AD 70, the second exile's period of failure began. Scattered throughout the earth, the Jewish people would have no authority in the land God gave to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob again until 1948.
Beginning at the end of Acts 7, God inserted a Mystery Dispensation, the Dispensation of Grace; this Mystery Dispensation will be completed when the Rapture occurs. When that happens Israel will be back in the Promised Land (1 Thess. 4:13 to 5:11).
When the Dispensation of Grace ends, God will return to complete the prophesied transition into the Kingdom Dispensation. This Irreversible Punitive Judgment of the seven-year Tribulation ends with The Battle of Armageddon. It will end The Time of the Gentiles on Israel as well. All of these events are under the Second Stage of the Redemptive Covenant (Joel 2, Acts 2:17-21).
Fourth, with the ascension of Jesus Christ in Acts 2 was the completion of the Redemptive Covenant. The Dispensation of Promise was still operating being offered directly to the Nation of Israel as the stewards. But, by the end of Act 7 the postponement started. There were a few individuals in the Nation who responded to the Gospel, they then were incorporated into the mystery dispensation.
These already were in a correct relationship in the Dispensation of Promise, and if they responded by repenting and identifying with Christ Jesus, they would submitted to repentance baptism as believing Jews and gentile proselytes.
In Acts 2:38, the message was “repent and be baptized” for the remission of sins. This called for them to identify with the Messiah, Jesus, the LORD, and savior. The Nation badly needed forgiveness because of its rejection to obey Jesus, and crucifying the Savior, repentance was in need. Thus the LORD called them to identify with Christ Jesus and turn from the false teaching and apostasy of their religious system (John 1:12, Acts 2:5, 36-39).
Fifth, as does the Redemptive Covenant continues throughout the Mystery Dispensation, working today as it provides God’s plan of salvation for all humanity entailing the Gospel. The Redemptive Covenant is functioning during this time of the Nation of Israel being overlaid, along with covenants promised them that was exclusively given for the Nation (Rom. 10:14-21, 11:11-29, 2 Cor. 5:17-21). God is in the process of reconciling the world unto Himself for anyone who receive His provision (Jn. 3:16, Ac. 4:10-12, Rom. 6:23, 5:7-8, 1 Jn. 5:9-14).
The Dispensation of Grace, also called the Mystery Dispensation, is a worldwide expression of God’s love, mercy, and grace, revealing God’s love at Christ Jesus’ expense! Even though the Jewish nation did not accept Christ Jesus as Lord or reach all with the message of the Gospel, God is now doing it with the new dispensation. Anyone can be saved by the Redemptive Covenant, also called the New Covenant second stage, that Jesus Christ fulfilled, which God is offering to anyone who receives Jesus as Savior and Lord (Jn. 1:12, 1 Jn. 5:9-14, Rom. 8).
Romans 10:9, 13: “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved, - For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Salvation is an absolute promise, and if one wants joy, peace, and a transformed life, they must let Jesus into their life (Ps. 103, 1 Jn. 2:1-3). How? Simply ask Him to come into your life (Rom. 10:13, Jn. 1:12)!
Sixth, if God had not revealed His Mystery Dispensation when He did, the world would have gone into the prophetic universal worldwide Irreversible Punitive Judgment as prophesied to Israel in the Old Testament and Gospels. This would have caused a dispensational change (Matt. 24; Acts 2:17-22). At this point, God stopped His prophetic economic timetable with the Nation of Israel in Acts 7.
The Times of the Gentiles continued with the Nation of Israel’s oppression, which was overlaid with the Dispensation of Grace. This dispensation continues to work redemption today for the world through its New Stewardship witness and proclamation. A New Organism planned in eternity past, being the Body of Christ (Romans 11). For more understanding, read Ephesians 2:14 through the forth chapter that verify this great truth! Also, see Colossians chapters one through four that expounds on these truths.
Instead of going into the Tribulation because Israel rejected its stewardship, God’s grace applied the Redemptive Covenant, second stage to the world through the stewardship of a Mystery Dispensation’s operation. This was and is the Dispensation of Grace (Rom. 16:25, 1 Cor. 2:7, Eph. 3:3, 9, Col. 1:26).
This Dispensation is a “new organism,” given to all humanity (Eph. 2:14-18, Gal. 3:15, 3:28, Col. 3:10-11, Rom. 9:22-33, 1 Cor. 12:12-14, Heb. 2:11).
This New Organism comprises all believers and is based on an individual’s personal relationship to the New Covenant accomplished in Christ Jesus through the Gospel (Eph. 3:6). During the former Dispensation, the Nation of Israel held their stewardship status but lost that unique position (Rom. 11).
Today, evangelistic outreach for the world’s salvation continues not with the Dispensation of Promise, but rather through the Dispensation of Grace, which is the dispensing institution of stewards. God planned this before the world began. Through His foreknowledge, He knew all human events including its failures (Rom. 8, Eph. 1:1-6, 2).
A primary unique aspect of God’s eternal plan at creation has been that He created us in the image of Himself (Elohim), God’s own likeness.
Genesis 1:26-28: “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
His final work of creation was humanity, made in His likeness. His last operation of redemption will be in the resurrection of our bodies as they are resurrected in a spiritual composition. The glorified human body could have happened back in the Garden of Eden if Adam and Eve had not sinned.
1 Corinthians 15:42-49: “So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is my natural body, and there is my spiritual body. And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also I am made of dust and as is the heavenly Man, I am also of the heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, he shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.”
All who are saved, which also includes those who did not achieve the age of accountability in life, will experience this resurrection at the time of resurrection. The beauty of the resurrection is the transformation of all babies who have died naturally or by abortion (murder) along with everyone, young, and old resurrected, as it was with the Lord Jesus Christ’s body when He resurrected. Experiencing resurrection in perfection happens in one’s prime and is similar to Jesus Christ’s age when He rose from death (somewhere around age thirty-three).
There is a false belief that teaches that children who die before the age of a cognitive ability and who do not choose God will perish. This teaches that the child will not go to heaven. This teaching is not true; the Lord Jesus accomplished salvation for the cognitive impaired and children before their ability to choose (Matt. 19:14, Rom. 5, Matt. 18:3). Besides, King David prophesied about His son, who died at birth or shortly after. He prophesied that they would be together for all eternity (2 Sam. 12:20-23). Another proof of this in Scripture is seen when the wicked unbeliever Jeroboam’s child died, and went to heaven (paradise before the finished work of Jesus Christ) because the child alone was the only one in Jeroboam’s family that God saw any good in His foreknowledge (I Kings 14:12-13, Romans 8:28-30, 11:2).
Philippians 3:20-21: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” (I Cor. 15, 1 Cor. 6:14, 2 Cor. 4:14, Phil. 3:17-20, Rom. 6:5).
From the time of human conception (Ps 139), God created life and also provided them with His redemption (Eph. 1:1-3). The Lord God provided His Redemption Covenant for them in eternity past. It now can be applied because of the Lord Jesus Christ’s accomplishment on the cross. Humans has been given the choice to receive personally and individually the ability to be transformed into the children of God (Jn. 1:12). Those who receive this provision through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for their sins, will experience the composition of a spiritual and bodily transformation and be resurrected into heaven at the appointed time (Col. 1:3-6, 1 Pet. 1:3-5, 1 Cor.15).
Those who reject God’s truths will receive their eternal makeup when resurrected from hell. They will be united with their physical body at the Great White Throne Judgment. They will be without mercy, thrown into the “Lake of Fire” and conscious for all eternity. It is eternal justice, the payment for their rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ and remaining in their fallen state of sins.
Another great enlightening truth of God’s grace is found in 2 Corinthians 5:1-8 and in 1 Corinthians 15. Everyone should study these passages. They reveal that when believers die, there is a temporary spiritual body, received until the resurrection of the earthly physical body. God gives an intermediate spiritual body until the transformation of our present one. Then the new body after the transformed resurrection of our present body will be a complete and permanent spiritual body transformation.
The Word of God makes the truth that humans are body, soul, and spirit. God’s Word says that when a person dies, their soul goes to be with the LORD if they have placed their faith in the substitutionary work of the Lord Jesus Christ. This absolute truth that when the human spirit leaves the physical body, it unites with the intermediate body in heaven as a living soul, means we are eternal (1 Cor. 15:15-58).
2 Corinthians 5:1- 8: “For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation, which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”
Even at death, a human remains body, soul, and spirit and awaits the physical body's resurrection at the appointed time by God (1 Thess. 5:23). Old Covenant saints and New Covenant saints will experience resurrection at the Rapture (1 Thess. 4:15-18).
Those saints who die after the Rapture or during the time period of the setting up of the earthy thousand-year reign of Christ will experience resurrection (Rev. 6:9, 20:4-6). The last resurrection will be at the end of the Dispensation of the Earthly Kingdom as it goes into the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time.
It is worth noting that there is no soul sleep, but as the Apostle Paul revealed and recorded; life is continuous and immediately, it is eternal at the point of death (death means separation from one place to another, not annihilation, or soul sleep).
2 Corinthians 5:6-8: “So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”
Eternal life is not interrupted by physical death; it simply waits for the completion of the resurrection. The day that the LORD has planned is at His timing. Read the passages and salivate over the deeper truths that await you if you have accepted Him (Ps. 90:12). Note however that these are warnings that you must consider if you have refused God (Ps. 14:1).
The Dispensation of Grace is a mystery not prophesied. Gentiles' salvation, however, was foretold, but not on an equal dispensational, governmental and stewardship basis with Israel (Col. 1:27, 2:2).
The world's governments are to be subordinate to God in harmony with the new organism, the church, which is called "the Body of Christ" (Rom. 13, Eph. 6:5-20, 1 Tim. 2:1-7, 1 Pet. 2:13-17). God holds all governments today accountable for dispensing good and promoting the Redemptive Covenant; this is the basis of Biblical truth and personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Governments of the world are accountable and held accountable every day, waiting for God's final judgment. Their accountability, carried out on them by God's providential working starts now and is for eternity (Rom. 13). One may ask themselves, why were they born under such an evil, wicked government? The questions one should ask and their answers can be found in Acts 17:24-32 and in 2 Corinthians 2:16, and 5:18-23. One will find it relates to their response to Christ.
The Mystery of the Gospel that Paul spoke about referred to the equal approach to God. It is a relationship with Him under the Dispensation of Grace, which includes stewardship (2 Cor. 5:16-21, Eph. 3:6, 6:19, Rom. 10:9-13, 16:25 cf., Eph. 2:1-13, Jn. 1:11, 12, 1 Jn. 5:9-14).
The Gospel does not fail, only stewards fail. Failure today will cause the end to the present dispensation’s operation. It will bring about the Irreversible Punitive Judgment on those who rejected the Gospel under the Dispensation of Grace (2 Thess. 2:9-12, 1 Tim. 4:1-4, 2 Tim. 3:1-7).
The end will result in God’s completion of the program with the Nation of Israel that He prophesied and suspended when He instituted today’s Dispensation (Rom. 11, Acts 7, 28:24-28). The Redemptive Covenant and the Gospel will still be operating when God completes His program with the Nation of Israel. Absolute Universal laws of God and the Redemptive Covenant did not change when the Dispensation of Grace was revealed. Redemption is open for all who will trust in Jesus Christ.
One cannot change a covenant or the Universal Absolute laws of God; only the rules for governing its provisions can vary or change, this is why they are dispensational. Changes transpire only according to the Operating Guidelines.
There is only one Gospel, whereby the Redemptive Covenant becomes applicable for deliverance and eternal salvation (Gal. 3:15). The Gospel is an Absolute Universal Truth that applies to all Dispensations. The “Good News” of the Gospel of the Redeemer, was prophetically promised to all of future humanity back in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:15, Rom. 5).
People of all generations before the cross-looked forward to the Redeemer, today humanity looks back to Jesus Christ’s completed work of redemption. Specifically His incarnation or birth, life, death, resurrection and indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Heb. 4:2, 11:26, 1 Cor. 15:3, Eph. 1:13-14, Ez. 36:27, Acts 2, Jn. 14, 16).
Seventh, The Redemptive Covenant will operate through the seven-year Tribulation Period. The Tribulation is the next divine event after the Rapture, and it will end today’s Dispensation, the Dispensation of Grace. God’s Rapture will snatch all believers into heaven and leave all of today’s nonbelievers on earth to face the Tribulation to follow.
This seven-year Tribulation will be the beginning of the transition to the Kingdom Dispensation. The Tribulation will end with the Irreversible Punitive Judgment coming from God for those left behind after the Rapture. Judgment will encompass those who reject the Gospel during this time. During the Tribulation period, the Holy Spirit will still permanently indwell those who become transformed believers by receiving Jesus Christ as Savior.
The Redemptive Covenant will never cease operating during the Tribulation (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22, 14:13, 19:10). During the tribulation, God will still be convicting men of sin. He will work through the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is integral to the Redemptive Covenant for those individuals who put their trust in the substitutionary, sacrificial work of Christ Jesus, for the forgiveness of sin and their sin nature (1 Jn. 2:1-3). The Holy Spirit will still indwell those who receive the Gospel at this time.
During the seven-year Tribulation period, new believers will have to endure difficulties, and severe trials to enter into the earthly Kingdom in their physical bodies (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26, 3:5, 12, 21, 15:2, 21:7). Believers, who do not escape at this time, will experience martyrdom because of their opposition to Satan's evil forces, since they will refuse to accept the mark of the Beast.
Those who refused the Gospel message and who rejected the Redemptive Covenant in the former dispensation’s operation, will go into the Tribulation period and not be saved since they hardened their hearts before the Rapture (1 Thess. 4:13-18, cf. 2 Thess. 1:5-10, 2:9-12). Those who reject the Gospel in the Tribulation without repenting will be eternally lost and will perish, along with those nonbelievers of the former dispensation (2 Thess. 2:9-12, Rev. 1-3, 14:8-11).
The Nation of Israel will be granted its authorized stewardship status once again as planned by God. During this time a remnant of the Nation will take responsibility by preaching the Gospel to the world as prophesied (Matt. 10:16-23, 28:26-20, Rev. 7, Micah 5, Zeph. 3).
The seven churches of Revelation will find their fulfillment during the period in Revelation 1-3. Note this is not the church of the Dispensation of Grace, which will end with the Rapture.
Revelation 1:19-20: “Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.”
The Spirit of God urges them to reject false teaching, and to endure up to and through The Battle of Armageddon. These seven churches are the "called out" believers of seven groups that claim they know God during the tribulation period. This transition will end with The Battle of Armageddon and the Dispensation of the Kingdom in full operation.
Our Lord Jesus will lead the Battle, and He will return literally and physically in His second coming to earth as planned by the sovereignty of God in eternity past (Rev. 16:13-16, 19:11-21, Zech. 14:1-5).
The Lord will ascend to the Throne of David to rule the earth from the New Jerusalem (Rev. 20:4-6). This event will be the beginning of the full operation of the Dispensation of the Kingdom, and will include the fulfillment of the promises made to Israel, along with 1,000-year reign on earth of Christ Jesus.
Eighth, The Redemptive Covenant will operate in the earthly Kingdom, called the Dispensation of the Kingdom. The Redemptive Covenant will continue through the Dispensation of the Kingdom, with the unique presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, sitting on the Throne of David. Jesus Christ, the Messiah, will fulfill all the prophecy spoken of since the world began, relating to the earthly Kingdom. God will accomplish the covenants He made with Abraham and Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, and the Nation of Israel His chosen Nation.
This specific “period of time is called in Scripture the Kingdom of Christ," the "Millennial Reign of Christ" (Messiah), "1,000 year Millennium," or the "Dispensation of the Kingdom." The Kingdom will be for a set time of absolute perfect governmental rule and peace. The end of the 1,000 years will be when God will manifest His victory historically over the forces of Satan.
Revelation 20:9: “And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.”
All Old Testament saints will reign with Christ. They will reign along with those saved during the Dispensation of Grace, and those martyred, being under His authority. The Lord Jesus Christ, "Messiah, King," and the saints, who are in their glorified eternal spiritual bodies will reign throughout the 1,000 years with Him (Rev. 20:4-6, 1 Cor. 6:1-4). During this time, our God will imprison Satan for one-thousand years. Then he will be released at the end to gather those who rejected Christ during the millennium (Rev. 20:1-10).
Those who entered the millennial reign from the tribulation period and who did not die will reproduce since they are still in their earthly bodies. Children born during the Millennium will still be in their natural bodies. They will still need salvation, transformation, and forgiveness of sin. They will still need to turn to Jesus Christ and His finished work given freely in the Redemptive Covenant for an abundant life, and to escape the eternal just punishment of the Lake of Fire.
At the end of the 1,000 years, an unknown number of these children that were born who rejected salvation will follow Satan to attack Christ; in response, God will destroy all the followers of Satan in the Battle called Gog and Magog (Rev. 20:7-10).
Sadly, all the unsaved who lived, being part of and aware of a perfect government of Christ, will still show the evil depravity of their human hearts. It is a repeated warning to them and any living today that apart from transformation by the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, they are justly condemned (Jn. 1:12, Rom. 10:9-13, 1 Jn. 5:9-14).
Our Lord Jesus Christ will sentence all unbelievers to eternal punishment. This is the eternal Irreversible Punitive Judgment. The Great White Throne Judgment will put an end to the Dispensation of the Millennial Kingdom, and will bring the fullness of the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time, the Eternal Kingdom of God, into eternal operation (Eph. 1:10, Ps. 45:6, Dan. 2:44, 6:26, Matt. 12:28, 19:24, 21:43, Acts 19:8, 28:23, 1 Cor. 6:9).
Again as stated, the end of the thousand year earthly Kingdom, the Dispensation of the Kingdom will usher in “the Eternal Kingdom of God,” also called “the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time,” that will operate for eternity (Rev. 21-22).
1 Corinthians 15:24-28: “Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.” (The completion is orderly truth of the plan of the Godhead).
Revelation 12:10: “Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.”
Ephesians 1:10: “That in the Dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.”
Ninth, The Redemptive Covenant, in the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time, will be complete throughout eternity (2 Pet. 1:11, Dan. 4:3, 34, 7:26-28, Ps. 45:5-7, 145:13).
To review, the First Stage of the Redemptive Covenant began at Adam’s fall in Genesis. The covenant operated during the first four Dispensations (the Dispensation of Innocence, the Dispensation of Conscience, the Dispensation of Human Government, and part of the Dispensation of Promise) until it was completed by God. This fulfilled the requirements for the Second Stage and effected the implementation of the New Covenant (Acts 2).
The Second Stage has operated throughout the last part of the Dispensation of Promise (Acts 2-7). It continues working throughout three Dispensations: the Dispensation of Grace, the Dispensation of the Kingdom, and the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time.
Tenth, The Dispensation of the Fullness of Time completes the fullness of redemption (Eph. 1:10). The Holy Spirit will still be working in this Dispensation and it will bring joy (Rom. 14:17). We will experience spiritual benefits and fellowship from the Redemptive Covenant through our relationship with God the Father, our Lord Jesus Christ, and through the Holy Spirit. The joyful experience will be beyond human belief in the Eternal Kingdom Dispensation (Eph. 1:14, Rom. 14:17).
The transition to the Eternal Kingdom starts with the release of Satan from the Bottomless Pit. Afterwards he will be cast into the Lake of Fire in the Battle of Gog and Magog, and then comes completion of the Great White Throne Judgment, and at last, the New Heaven and a New Earth will be instituted that will end the transition into the Eternal Kingdom.
After this, the Son of God will hand the Kingdom over to God the Father. This will signal the completion of the Godhead’s Redemptive Plan (Col. 1:19-20, Rev. 21-22).
1 Corinthians 15:24: “Then comes the end, when He (the LORD Jesus Christ) delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power”
The Dispensation of the Fullness of Time never ends because it will never fail. In addition, recipients or beneficiaries will be the redeemed since creation. God’s new creation of a New Heaven and a New Earth is eternal (Is 24:18-21, 65:17, 66:22, Rev. 20:14, 21:1).
The Dispensation of the Fullness of Time never fails. Satan, an evil liar, a deceiver, and a serpent of wicked devices, along with all who followed him, will be in the Lake of Fire. This is a created place of eternal judgment made explicitly for Satan and the fallen angels. They rejected their subordinate existence to God (Rev. 14:10).
Matthew 25:41: “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”
The timing of the final resurrection transformation for believers will occur at different stages depending upon the Dispensation in which they were originally saved (1 Cor. 15; 12-58, 1 Thess. 4:13-18, Dan. 12:2, Is. 2:19). The physical to spiritual transformation of the believer’s bodies will occur for some at the Rapture. For others it will be at the beginning of the Millennium and for others they will be resurrected at the end of the 1,000 years.
Nonbelievers will experience their final eternal punitive transformation to condemnation at the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:4-6, Ps. 1). The Bible says the nonbeliever’s bodies and spirit are united; this union will occur at the Great White Throne, which is their final eternal punitive judgment. It is their second death. Revelation 20:13 seems to refer to the dead bodies from the grave in its use of the word, “Sea.” Since death already occurred, it appears that the nonbeliever’s spirit is already in hell. Thus, its union with its physical body is only for judgment.
On pg. 169
Summary and Takeaway Truths
Chart 04 - The Redemptive Covenant's Historical
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On pg. 174
Chapter 5
Chapters Forward / Goals - Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12.
The Seven Fundamental Operating Keys are vital to understanding the workings of each Biblical Dispensation. The criteria represent the unbroken operation of a Major Dispensation. Listed below are the Seven Operating Keys’ criteria, along with how they apply to dispensations. See the Universal Circle of Dispensations chart at the end of this chapter for more information.
Three of the Keys would not come into operation if failure did not occur. Still, God, in eternity past, prepared for those failed choices. He loved and provided the means a human, could be saved from eternal damnation.
God came to earth as our LORD Jesus Christ, and He provided the only way of forgiveness. He provided the sacrifice that no human could provide, fulfilling His own justice for humans. The last three functions bring about the change as God planned because of humanity’s failure.
However, if the last three Keys do not occur, then the dispensation would be eternal. There is only one meeting these endless victory criteria, and that will be the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time. This dispensation, also called the Kingdom of God, will fulfill His eternal redemptive plan. The newly functioning endless world will be in the Eternal Dispensation. The Godhead only is the one Sovereign, eternal God (Rom. 1, 8:28-30, 9:1-32, Is. 43:10-14). The fallen world will pass away forever.
God is the Master planner of each Major Dispensation. He is the designer, and the sustainer of each. God's eternal dispensation and redemption are at the heart of the plan of the dispensations (Rev. 21, Heb. 1:1-4, Eph. 1:10). The Operational Keys contained in each of the dispensational systems completes the operation.
Within the Greek definition for dispensation, also includes the meaning, “household rules.” These rules control the functioning parameters of the household. Each dispensation has stewards that manage the functioning success of the house, forming an economy created by the owner or Master planner.
Therefore, the English word needs to contain these truths. The Master’s plan (God’s plan) of the household (creation) appointed stewards (responsible leaders), the rules of the operation (order) and the recipients (humanity) producing a holy family.
A dispensation is not controlled by time. The cause of failure of the economy is due to humanity’s lack of holiness. The degradation of humans, their ungodly self-will, self-righteous, self-importance, self-promotion, or self-indulgence results in failure (Gal. 5:19-21, Rom. 1:28-32). These failures bring God’s longsuffering to an end. The end of God’s longsuffering brings about the implementation of the process of a new Dispensation.
God’s master plan is redemption. God has offered redemption for fallen humanity (Jn 3:16). The offer is a gift given to humanity for an individual’s redemption. Humans cannot redeem themselves by anything they do or by any sort of change through their own personal endeavors. Yet God in the incarnation accomplished the prerequisite. He satisfied the justice required to make the payment required for our sins. God the Son is the justifier necessary for humanity. The individual who accepts the Son receives eternal justification.
Romans 3:24-26: “being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
Some do not want to use the word dispensation, so they substitute the word plan. At one level a Dispensation is a plan since it is a part of God’s entire planned strategy. A Major Dispensation is the outworking of the plan of God during a period of a historical economy. It has stewards responsible for carrying out the dispensational operational plan. The Godhead planned it in eternity past.
Since the world began, there have been Seven Major sub-plans (Dispensations). These plans are within the Master Operating Plan of Redemption. The word “plan” is an imperfect and incomplete word for the meaning of the word “dispensation” in the ongoing operation of the Master plan of Redemption. However, the term “plan” is an acceptable use for the Master Plan, but not a substitute for the word dispensation!
Every teaching of God’s total working represents His plan. Remember, a dispensation is a subordinate word to the Master’s Plan. The word “dispensation” describes God’s planned operations in history for humanity. Each Dispensation represents a section of the history of humanity, and each is fully part of carrying forward God’s Master Plan as revealed in Scripture.
The word 'plan' is not, the best word to substitute for the word “dispensation.” The term “plan” does not fulfill the three criteria applied to a dispensation's meaning.
Furthermore, the word “plan” is not equal to the meaning of the word “dispensation.” The best alternative word is “administration” if a substituted word is used.
The meaning of the word “dispensation” is one who carries out the prescribed functioning operation of the Seven Operating Principles. The length of a dispensation’s control is not by time. The dispensation’s success and fulfillment, coupled with the longsuffering of God, is what brings it to completion. Three things are required for a dispensation to exist.
These three criteria meet the one integral meaning of the word dispensation, which the word 'plan' does not.
God owns the world including all of humanity (household). He gives holy, just, and righteous rules for the operation of His creation. He ordained the Stewardship Institutions to carry out His plan for creation. There is a chain of command, ordained by God, that he set about to complete His plan (chapters six through twelve explain these in detail).
Do not mix up the Seven Major Dispensations with the Seven Keys of the System Operation. No matter what word is used to mean dispensation, it needs to teach the truths of Scripture. Discovering the Seven Keys of Operation is important in terms of learning about the Major Dispensation Operation.
As previously mentioned the word “administration” is an acceptable substitute for the word “dispensation.” The operation of an administration helps us understand the word dispensation for a few reasons.
First, authority establishes the existence of an administration.
Second, the rules governing an administration determine the success or failure of the existence within the author's tolerance.
Third, there are leaders or stewards responsible for the leadership and fulfillment of the operation's accomplishment. The layperson or worker is accountable to obey. They are to live and work in conformity under the administration.
Fourth, if the administration fails, a new administration starts. Failure brings about a transition from the old administration to the new one. The stewards or leaders are then replaced. Then the replacement administration is appointed.
Fifth, the new administration has universal rules. Some rules stay the same, others are modified, and others are carried over from the previous administration. Besides, there will be new rules unique to the new administration that were not given before.
In the next chapters, we will look at each of the Seven Keys.
On pg. 179
First, we need to clearly, understand the Gospel. Some dispensationalists claim that being dispensational means you have to equate covenants and dispensations as one, and the same entity. They must, in their estimation, cross over to form a presupposition. For example, baptism is not a covenant but a dispensational law or rule. Communion is not a covenant, but a dispensational rule of practice (see the baptism and communion entries in the index).
The Gospel is the Redemptive Covenant's empowerment (from God), and the preaching of the Gospel is a dispensational rule or law for transformation via stewardship responsibility in proclamation and living.
Some try to state that Peter was preaching a different Gospel than Paul (Gal. 2:7). There is only one Gospel from God in Jesus Christ, and it is the Redemptive Covenant.
Peter preached this one Gospel during the Dispensation of Promise and in the transition into the Dispensation of Grace, so did Paul and so did all the other brothers and sisters who were believers. There are dispensational differences according to the dispensations they were to reach in transition, but they included and preached the same Gospel. The rules and modifications changed from including just the Nation of Israel to equality with Gentiles (also called the “New Organism” in Ephesians 2:15). Put simply, the Dispensation of Promise was decreasing, and the Dispensation of Grace was increasing.
When the word Gospel is used, it refers to the complete works of God the Son. It includes His birth, life, death, and resurrection. The Gospel provides good news for humanity, especially through His sending of the Holy Spirit to indwell believers (Mk. 1:8, Jn. 14:15-18, 1 Cor. 15:1-4, Eph. 1:13).
Christ's works fulfilled the provisions needed to complete the New Covenant and to bring its transforming effect on individuals into existence. God's covenant work is entirely from Him. It is not dispensational. Rather it is the Covenant of Redemption God planned in eternity past for eternity. All writers and preachers of Scripture preached this message in whatever dispensation they were teaching and preaching! The stewards have and will preach and teach the gospel in the tribulation-transition period and in the Millennial Dispensation (the Kingdom Dispensation).
The Seven Major and sub-Dispensations have been instituted since the world began. They all exist moving forward within the Master Operating Plan of Redemption. These sub-dispensations are operating functions meant to bring the Redemptive Covenant to pass. However, the covenant in itself is completed entirely of God’s workings. All God’s works will be completed through the Eternal Dispensation also known as the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time and also called the Eternal Kingdom of God (Eph. 1:10, Heb. 1:8, Ps. 45:6).
All seven Major Dispensations move the human race from creation to the cross and the finished work of Christ Jesus and the Redemptive Covenant. This is the essence of the macro-level plan (goal archived) of the Gospel. The Redemptive Covenant makes salvation possible. Christ Jesus is the door all must enter. It is the door whereby one spiritually enters into God’s provision.
The leaders or stewards are responsible for the proclamation of the only way of salvation. They are to fulfill the operational accomplishment of the dispensation, not the covenant that God already fulfilled in Christ Jesus. No matter what dispensation, there is only one Redemptive Gospel for humans.
Romans 5:6-9: “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
Romans 10:14-15: “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”
2 Corinthians 5:16-21: “Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
There are different words describing the Redemptive Covenant but they all refer to the complete works of God. The New Covenant, The Gospel, the Eternal Covenant, the Everlasting Covenant, all of these words describe an aspect of the Redemptive Covenant. All of these define the truth of salvation (Heb. 7:22, Eph. 2, Acts 4:12, 15:7, Gal. 1:7; 2:7, 3:8-9, Rom. 1:16, 2 Cor. 2:12).
Dispensations and covenants work within God’s plan. God’s Redemptive Covenant is the Major Covenant that reveals humanity’s eternal salvation. Whereas the Seven Major Dispensations show the historical events, the Operational Keys help covenants progress through Dispensations. The Seven Major Dispensations bring about the progressive fulfillment of God’s Master Plan, the Redemptive Covenant, and covenants (review chapters three and four).
Remember that covenants are not dispensations, and vice versa. Covenants do not change after they are given (Gal. 3:15). A dispensation is not controlled by time but by the long-suffering of God and by human failure. Dispensations and covenants must be viewed as two distinct entities, however they still work together.
The next chapters are very important in keeping the word differences between dispensation and covenant separate. Showing their scriptural operating uniqueness from each other in the making of each of the seven Major dispensations. Covenants are working within the dispensation and the dispensation is the history where a covenant is being fulfilled, or it is carrying it forward to the next dispensation.
On pg. 183
A. Chapters six through twelve in this book teach the critical unifying symmetrical truths of Scriptural Dispensations. Neglecting them will result in an incomplete and inaccurate understanding of God’s dispensations as revealed in Scripture.
The first chapters spoke to the development of the seven Major Dispensations and the last chapters teach about the Operational Functioning of dispensations.
Additionally, the first chapter showed the importance of covenants. The essential covenant is the Redemptive Covenant. The completion of the Old Covenant led to the New Covenant.
The Redemptive Covenant had two stages, a first stage took place before Christ's finished work, and the second stage took place after Christ Jesus’ finished work on the cross.
B. This chapter shows that a covenant is not a dispensation, and a dispensation is not a covenant. However, they are different vehicles working to bring about the total Master Plan of God.
C. There are Seven Principles of Operation planned by God in the operation of a dispensation.
Chart 05 - The Seven Principles or Keys to a Dispensation
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---------------------------------
On pg. 186
Chapter 6
Chapters Forward / Goals - Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12.
This Key reveals all the Absolute Universal Truths God has given for humanity. These truths are “absolute” meaning they do not change.
Understanding the Seven Operational Keys of the system is fundamental. In addition, understanding of the bases is vital to learning about a dispensation’s operation. Biblical continuity and clarity of a dispensation’s process reveals symmetry. The process is how God works out His plan throughout the Bible. Understanding the balance or symmetry shows how Biblical events tie together and it opens one’s heart and mind to God’s awesome work of redemption.
Absolute Universal Truth is one of the Keys. It is a truth and does not change. It reveals absolute worldwide truths that show the progression of the history to humanity. In this we discover God’s plan offered to humanity.
Learning about the Universal Keys opens our eyes to the make-up of the earth, universe, and spiritual truths. God planned for humanity to understand absolute truth. By this we are given assurance, stability, and security (Gen. 1:26-28, Ps. 19, Rom. 1, 8).
Hebrews 6:18: “that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.”
Universal Truths assure us that we have a solid foundation. They provide us with the comfort that things do not change by mere chance. They bring confidence to our world. They teach us that the universe will not fall apart no matter what Dispensations govern our existence. The creator God is in full control.
We must however seek out these truths in creation. Absolute Universal Truths are in keeping with the laws created by God. It does not matter if they already exist or if they are still hidden in God to be revealed in a later dispensation. They are universal facts no matter what (Mk. 13:31, 2 Tim. 2:15, Tit. 1:3, Ps. 12:6, 18:30, 33:4, 68:11, 105:7-9, 119:89, 103, 130, 160).
A dispensation is a historical operating economy that requires humanity’s obedience. The dispensation operation instructs how humanity is to interact with God and with His creation. The functioning of the dispensation economy may change, but its Absolute Universal Principles do not. The Absolute Universal Principles always remain the same.
Examples:
We must never overlook universal principles in our studies. They are connected to scriptural truths in many significant ways. It is essential to search and find where factual truths within every Dispensation's operation reside. This includes studying and understanding the different historical periods of the dispensations.
Humanity is accountable to knowing universal truths and applying them. These events need to be taken into account so that confusion will be avoided. It is also important to learn about these events so that Scriptural truths can be properly obeyed and applied correctly (Eph 4:14).
2 Timothy 2:14-15: “Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Absolute Universal Truths never change; sometimes God chooses to reveal them later. That does not invalidate them or make them less important. They have always been truth and justice unrevealed.
Universal, eternal truths have always been working in the background of history until they are revealed. When revealed they combine with other universal truths that were in place from eternity and that exist from previous dispensations. There are new worldwide truths, rules, and laws continually revealed for future obedience and use for humanity’s wellbeing.
Many of the universal truths have a unique relationship to each of the Dispensations. Also, they do not change God's covenants. Rather, they provide direction on how to carry them out during the time of the dispensation's operation.
Absolute Universal Truths, complement the other six Operating Keys making a dispensation operation recognizable. For example, in the stewardship of a dispensation, there is the Stewardship Institution, and the stewards are one of the key dispensational operational workings of the system. This is further explained later under the section covering the fourth Operating Key.
One needs to be sure they are not violating other holy absolute rules found in Scripture. Worldwide, instructions (absolute laws of truth) are to operate according to the way God planned them. They are planned for the dispensation’s operation and are not to be changed.
Absolute Universal Truths are outlined in the following examples. Animals never change; they are after their created kind. Some animals were created as scavengers to clean up the earth while others were created for enjoyment, work, food, and sacrifices (Gen. 1:24, 25). Now, let’s dive into this a little further.
God created Animals in the first Dispensation after their kind. This is an Absolute Truth. The Second Dispensation distinguishes between clean and unclean animals (non-scavenger and scavenger). The act of eating animals was not present in the first two Dispensations. Meat was not in man’s diet until the third Dispensation (Gen. 9:2-3). Before the Law of Moses, there was no law given for eating clean or unclean animals. Humanity could eat any animal; there were no restrictions, except eating or consuming the blood (Gen. 9:4).
The Dispensation of Human Government was the first time man could eat meat. However, this did not include eating the blood of the animal. Therefore, they were to drain out the blood from the animal at the time of butchering. God commanded butchering this way in this dispensation for the first time. Again, this command was before the Law of Moses. Remember that animals always stay as animals of their kind (Gen. 9:3-4). The Dispensational modification rules are another Key to understanding a dispensation. They are discussed later in the chapter on modified laws.
God gave the Mosaic Law during the Dispensation of Promise. The Nation of Israel was only to eat clean animals. The new Mosaic Law restricted eating depending on if the animal was clean or unclean. All scavenger animals were unclean (Lev. 11, 20:25). This is why Peter in Acts 10:14 did not want to eat when offered unclean animals before going to the gentile Cornelius. This was Peter’s understanding before God made it clear an acceptable thing, being a change in the new dispensation (Ac. 10:15). Note: Remember the new dispensation began in infancy at the end of Act 7.
When the Dispensation of Grace began, He said one could eat all animals again. The person eating was to give thanks to God for the food, and they would not have to make a distinction between clean and unclean before eating them (Col. 2:16, Rom. 14:1-23, Acts 10:9-16, 1 Tim. 4:3-6). The Absolute Universal Law of animals remained through the dispensations that they were either a clean or an unclean animal according to their function in creation.
Universal Truths will continue to be revealed throughout each Dispensation’s operation. When God created humans, He proclaimed that humans were to subdue the earth and were responsible for taking care of the animals, the environment, and the universe.
Humans were to be the stewards and caretakers of the planet. As such they were to discover ways to help the planet. This led to the studies of the sciences, and all other such disciplines. God ordained humanity to accomplish stewardship and to put its skills to use through husbandry, and in the application of knowledge (Gen. 1:26-28, 2:15).
All Seven of the Keys are guides within a dispensation schematic, which is a plan that shows the details of how something operates and is put together. The Keys are in play as a dispensation functions. A dispensation’s progression, when understood, does not change an Absolute Universal Principle.
The existance of Dispensations are absolute. There are dispensations under God's Eternal Kingdom Dispensation, and the operating functions are constant. For a dispensation operation to change, the last three Operational Keys have to occur. These are humanity's failure, the transition, and the irreversible punitive judgment. The three Operating Keys together end a dispensation operation. After this the next dispensation operation is moves into place through the transition. The process is completed when the shift ends. Chapter 10 discusses the "transition" also known as the sixth Key Operating function. The Irreversible Punitive Judgment is discussed in chapter eleven.
On pg. 191
There is an inherent universal truth, which is important above all others: “there is one and only one God” (Is. 43:10-12, Jn. 1:1-3, 14, Heb. 1:8-12, 1 Tim. 2:5, Ac. 5:3-4). The triune God (Elohim) is the one who has established the eternal government and the dispensations that go with it (Is. 42:5, 8, 44:24).
We have seen Seven Major Operating Dispensations (administrations). They are the Seven Major Dispensations ordained by God. There is one Eternal Kingdom government, from eternity past to eternity future. The workings of The Seven Major Dispensations are subordinate to the eternal redemptive plan as revealed in the Bible (Rom. 14:17, 1 Cor. 4:20, 1 Thess. 2:12). The last dispensation merges into the eternal dispensation that never ends. This completes redemption (The Dispensation of the Fullness of Time).
God is continually working in the affairs of humanity to complete His eternal Kingdom. He is always managing and directing this eternal government by a series of dispensations in history.
His instituted stewards provide spiritual supervision. They help carry out the historic dispensation operation in the world as God endorsed. These stewards were ordained from eternity past as His representatives. Stewards own nothing but are responsible for proclaiming and teaching God’s truth (2 Cor. 17-21, Rom. 10:14-16, 13:1-7, 1 Cor. 12, Eph. 4).
On pg. 192
Supporting the Universal Kingdom of God are the Six Major Dispensations in history. The chosen stewards of God are given operating responsibility. It is the faithful believer’s responsibility to carry out the administration and the dispensation in which they live (Acts 17:24-25, 2 Cor. 5:16-21).
All the other Dispensations are subordinate to the Dispensation of the Kingdom of God and they work to bring God’s Sovereign Dispensation to fulfillment. There are other subordinate dispensations, formed by humanity, which are discussed in chapter twelve.
They include primary rulers, local rulers and all family heads. God holds all humans, both believers, and non-believers, responsible and all are to live out their lives in accountability.
Sometime dispensationalists or theologians organize their schematic of dispensations without guiding principles. They need to reevaluate their understanding as they look at the workings of God. Many have missed considering the Seven Operating Keys. Chapters six through twelve bring clarity to the functioning guiding principles of the dispensations within, having all seven potential keys of operation.
There are laws, rules, regulations, commands, and controls for the world's guardianship as God designed. Remember, believers are the "mouthpiece and ambassadors" to a fallen world.
This guardianship provides protection and gives guidance through God's Word within a dispensation’s operation. If you are a transformed believer, you are responsible for knowing these truths (Matt. 28:17-20, 2 Cor. 5:17-21, 2 Tim. 2:14-19). A believer is accountable for living out these truths in their everyday life. When they do, others will be saved.
In addition, His offer of redemption extends to the ones who are rejecting of His provision. The redemptive Covenant is an Absolute Universal Covenant. It covers all God’s dealings with humanity, and takes place throughout all the administrations (dispensations). All these are universal worldwide truths that come from God’s Master plan (Acts 17:24-28, 2 Cor. 2:16).
God has one eternal plan. It was planned in eternity past and it contains Seven Major Dispensations (administrations). Within each Dispensation, there are stewards of His choosing. Humanity needs to make sure not to deceive others into believing or thinking we are talking about a human government, a church, denomination, or a religious group when we talk about dispensations. A Dispensation is God’s ordained operation, revealed in scripture, and carried out by His elected Stewardship institution historically.
God’s called out believers are part of His ordained institution, and are transformed by Jesus Christ from spiritual death to life (Eph. 2:1-10). They are to carry out the dispensation operation under His direction (1 Cor. 3:11). This truth is universal and is recorded in the Bible.
Absolute Universal Truths are in keeping with God’s character. These truths show how He relates to His creation. The one God is moral, holy, righteous, and just. He acts in love, mercy, grace, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness, and temperance. He can always be trusted. Individuals can place their faith in Him without any fear whatsoever (Gal. 5:22-23). If you haven’t made Jesus Lord of your life, you are missing out on all the eternal benefits that God wants to freely give you (Eph. 2:8,9, Rom. 10:9-13, Jn. 1:12, Jn. 1:12, 1 Jn. 5:9-14).
Absolute Universal Truth principles relate to His creation. For example, humanity will always be either a man or a woman and possess the character of a man or woman. Each of us possesses eternal personhood, which was given at creation by God and we all are accountable to trust and obey Him and His laws.
All humanity fears death and we all know that we have an eternal fate. It will be either in heaven or in the Lake of Fire. We know this regardless of what we try to convince ourselves to believe (Ecc. 3:11, Heb. 2:14-15). Therefore, any diversion from the absolute is a violation of God's absolutes and is sinful and evil.
All of God's universal laws are holy, righteous, and give justice, even though humans cannot be sanctified apart from Him and are not able to save themselves due to humanity's depravity and defective essence (Eph. 2:1-5).
A human has the capability to do and fall into every kind of sin and evil. Actions are always sinful whenever a person's behavior does not meet God's holiness and design. Our capability to sin and our sinful action stem from our corrupt nature. In short, we are born into depravity. Personal holiness can only be found through faith in Jesus Christ as revealed in the Absolute Universal Truth of God's incarnation (Rom 7:12, 12:1, 1 Pet. 1:15-16, Eph. 1:4, Gal. 3, Phil. 2:1-11).
Ephesians 2:1-5: “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).”
God offers salvation to anyone who will receive His plan as a special gift from Him, and regardless of anything a human can do or give Him (Rom. 6:23, Tit. 3:5, Eph. 2:8-9, 1 Jn. 5:9-14).
Believers are responsible for witnessing, teaching, training, and warning the lost. This is a worldwide responsibility. The responsibility to be a witnessing-ambassador is according to the particular dispensation that the believer is living in (Ps. 27:1, 34:11, Ez. 3:17-21, 2 Pet. 2:5, Deut. 6:1-17, Tit. 1:1-10, 2 Tim. 2:2, Prov. 11:3, Matt. 28:19-29, 2 Cor. 5:17-21).
Universal Truths of God have always been holy and right in God's nature. We can confidently count on the facts that God does not lie and that He cannot sin (Heb. 6:18). He will never-mislead us into error for that goes against His Holiness and His nature (Tit. 1:1-3, 1 Sam. 15:29, Heb. 13:8). Errors occur when we are drawn away because of our lust and desires and when we do not ask Him for help. We make mistakes when we do not seek and study the truths revealed in God's Word (Jas. 1:14).
Knowing holy universal facts is necessary for our everyday living. They keep and direct us away from sin and failures. Therefore, we find hope and security for the future.
Preaching about practical living in light of the dispensations has been the emphasis of pastors, evangelists, and Biblical teachers for countless centuries. They have spent the majority of their practical preaching and teaching disciplines in leading humanity in the Eternal Absolute Universal Truths of the one God.
The one universal worldwide principle places God first. Having Him first in your life and being thankful for Him are essential spiritual truths. Whenever we pray, He is pleased to hear from us! Knowing universal truths gives God satisfaction and blesses Him. It immediately opens the doors for Him to work in a person’s life and it provides stability to society. The number one commandment of God is to Love the Lord your God with your whole heart, soul, and mind (Matt. 22:36-38, Deut. 6:5).
On pg. 196
The Progressive Revelation of Absolute Universal Principles
In God’s infinite wisdom, He has chosen to disclose Universal Truths to humanity within a progressive historical setting. They are revealed according to His dispensations. Dispensations unfold the Operating Keys in Scripture. They present His promises, and show His sustaining power through His omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience.
He will reveal and make clear evidence of absolute truths outside the Bible in the future. These truths are the result of His compassion, mercy, and grace to humanity. He has predestined humanity to know truthful facts in His timing (Gen. 1:26-28, Ps. 19, Rom. 1).
All the Spiritual truths are complete in Scripture. He reveals further truths as well that relate to our world and universe through discovery of humanity subduing the world.
The Bible is a closed book (sealed manuscript). Meaning there is no progression in the form of new written content. The Bible was complete, as written. Within the internal content, He recorded the progress of the history of creation, starting from when God created time in the first dispensation all the way through the eternal Kingdom of God (The Dispensation of the Fullness of Time).
Put simply, there is no other complete library book than the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. The Bible is the Absolute Universal Truth, and there is no other (Heb. 4:12, Ps. 18:30, 119, Lk. 11:28, Jn. 12:48, Rom. 10:17, Eph. 6:17, Rev. 22:18, Is. 24:5).
The Word of God progressed through the writing and compiling of the Bible through predetermined thought, as God's communication to humans. The entire Bible is the record of God's predetermined thoughts and activities as they move history towards eternal redemption. God gives redemption for humanity. He provided it and offers it to humans as the payment necessary to save them from His just judgment and condemnation (Gal. 4:4, Eph. 1:7, Jn. 1:12-14, 3:16).
Moses wrote down the first five inspired (God-breathed) books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). Throughout human history, God preserved Moses’s books. During the first three Dispensations He wrote them on stone, and utilized word of mouth, then papyrus.
Read the Bible! As you read the accounts written by Moses, you will discover the progression of history (dispensations). God published little for you to see especially between the time of Adam and Moses, but recorded the major events. Genesis is the first book, of the five that Moses wrote, and covers the history to Moses’ birth. The other four (Ex., Lev. Num. and Deut.) give more detail of the working of God through His chosen people.
Moses was an educated man and God inspired His communication. God gave him the ability to write an orderly account, and a handle on language grammar, which he learned through the Egyptian education system and from his ancient Hebrew descendants.
Reading the Bible is truly proof of the Majesty of God as it reveals His Sovereignty. He is the awesome author who guides humanity. Those who wrote the Bible were used as the instruments of His inspiration in order to communicate absolute truth.
Men (stewards, prophets, priests, and kings) who were under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit wrote the rest of the Old Testament. The whole of the Bible contains nothing but absolute truth about good, bad, and evil and about God’s call of redemption.
The books of the New Testament were inspired (God-breathed) words written by Godly men. God directed them to write His Absolute Universal Truths. They were inspired instruments motivated by the internal creative impulse of God the Holy Spirit.
Called-out believers compiled and agreed upon the canon of New Testament Scripture in the fifth century. The last inspired book written in the Bible is Revelation, which was written by John the Apostle around AD 95. God used the personalities of chosen stewards, who recorded and compiled His exact wording.
2 Timothy 3:16: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,”
2 Peter 1:19-21: “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
Note: In one’s own study of the Bible, it is important to be sure that one does not rely on “private interpretation,” as a way to interpret Scripture coming to any conclusion we want. We must instead always seek out what the Holy Spirit has already accurately recorded.
One can see Biblical progression with the incarnation of His Son. This progressive nature is a universal truth relating to the Redemptive Covenant (Gal. 4:4-6: “at just the right time God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem,”). Then in Acts 2, He sent forth the Holy Spirit to indwell believers (Eph. 1:13, Acts 2:1-4). One sees progression in the revealing of what God the Holy Spirit has recorded in the Scriptures regarding Elohim’s working in history.
Even at the time of your creation, God showed a progressive plan, the exact time, and place in history for our beginning and eternal destiny. His Word says He planned the best time for one’s conception and birth. God did this at the best historical time, knowing it would be the best time for you to receive or reject His offer of salvation (Acts 17:26-31, Rom. 8:29-30, Ps. 139:13-17).
For those who receive salvation, God gives us the Holy Spirit to indwell our body (Eph. 1:13, 4:30, 1 Cor. 6:19). After a believer dies, God will redeem the body that they possessed here on earth and will give them a new one in the resurrection (Eph. 1:14, 1 Thess. 4:16-18, 1 Cor. 15:35-49, 2 Cor. 5).
God (Elohim) glorifies the believer's body in the pattern of God the Son (the second person of the triune God) for eternity (Phil. 3:21). This truth is universal (Jn. 3:16). Also, when resurrected, men and women will no longer have any conflict in their relationships with one another. We will also be like the angels who do not marry, and who never die (Lk. 20:27-36).
Absolute Universal Truths are faith, hope, and love. They are forever characteristics in the workings of God as part of His divine nature. Faith, hope and love are also included as fruits of the Spirit of God (Gal. 5:22-26, 1 Cor. 13:1-13).
Compassionate mercy and grace are universal truths in the character of God (Deut. 4:31, Neh. 9:31, Is. 26:10, Jonah. 2:7-9, Jn. 1:16-17). As such, we need to exhibit grace and mercy in our dealings with others (Rom. 5:6-11). We are responsible to cultivate a community that expresses these characteristics. This means we are to act like Jesus within our family, our church, and among all (2 Cor. 5:23, Rom. 14).
On pg. 199
The Mosaic Law, which contains the universal moral laws, also revealed other ruling laws that included laws pertaining to worship, kingship, and Israel's Kingdom. The Mosaic Law was added to the Dispensation of Promise for purposes of obedience.
The moral laws in the Mosaic Law were written and revealed over 2,000 years after creation or around 650 after the Dispensation of Promise began with Abraham (Gal. 3:19, Rom. 2:12, 14, 3:19-30, 4:13-14, 20). Universal moral laws were in God's plan, and revealed to Moses, who gave the people them in written form (The Ten Commandments). These regulations were necessary for establishing the Kingdom Nation. The revealed laws were also implemented so that the world would understand the depth of its sinfulness (Rom. 5:13-14, 20-21).
The Bible never changes, it reveals absolute worldwide principles that we are to learn and to study (2 Tim. 3:16, Rom. 15:4). We are responsible to learn God's universal truths, which lead to salvation, individual sanctification, and they help us take care of the earth (Jn. 12:48, Gen. 1:26-28). The universal truth of witnessing is given to us so that the world may learn how to live morally and so that it may exist in a peaceable state, as commanded by God. Believers are to witness verbally and live out their faith each day. Our actions and testimony matter (Ps. 145).
Universal moral laws are a check against evil, and a weapon against the evil one, Satan, and our sin nature (Eph. 6:10-20). Many of the positive worldwide truths in the Bible counter wrong choices and evil. The Bible reveals that holiness, righteousness, and justice exist. It provides humanity with a barometer for personal living. It is a unified charter on how to live with others (James 1-5). Believers are universally mandated by God to share and stand for His truths (Rom. 10:9-13, 2 Cor. 5:18-23, Prov. 11:30). The Book of Proverbs is an excellent example of many universal truths and it is there to help us pursue them.
Marriage is only between a man and a woman (Gen. 1:27, Matt. 19:4, Eph. 5:20-33, 1 Cor. 7). The universal worldwide truths of marriage bring unity and harmony to the marriage unit and to the family. The leadership of a man and a supportive role of a woman are necessary for healthy existence. Their existence gives each other value as they express value to each other and to God (Eph. 5:20-33).
God created this order, and the faithfulness of a man and a woman is meant to bring them fulfillment and to help foster a healthy society. With their unity comes the ability to experience God’s better plan and design.
God’s design brings future blessings and establishes healthy community. However, violating His truths produces confusion. This confusion leads to all kinds of terrible sins since it violates the universal interaction of God’s creation with each other. The breach of the union between a husband and wife produces much ungodliness (1 Cor. 7, Gen. 1:26-28, 2:18-25, Matt. 19:1-10).
Hebrews 13:4: “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.”
Instead of teaching our women to usurp the leadership role, women need to learn the critical role God created for them (Gen. 2:20, 3:20, Tit. 2:3-4, 1 Cor. 7, Eph. 5). Society needs to teach women the power of their role. Their role of support produces value, and appreciation. Men need to learn that a woman is equal to them in God’s creation. She is not an object for selfish gratification. Both men and women were created to experience satisfaction through a balanced unification of love and respect in which their spirits unite (1 Cor. 7). When God’s plan from creation is followed men and women find love and value. In addition, their needs, longings, and desires are met through their appreciation for each other.
Men and women are accountable for keeping universal laws, and they need to accept their roles as taught in God’s Word. God commands husbands to lead in Christ’s love (Eph. 5, 1 Cor. 11, 13:1-8, 1 Pet. 3:7, Deut. 6). A blessed relationship is the fruit of Absolute Universal Principles.
Children will grow up as responsible citizens; they will have an advantage and the ability to accept God in their personal lives. Children who have faith in their parents will understand their heavenly Father better and will treat others better. Godly, obedient parents are to love their children, which allow children to consider God in their personal life. Their behavior is then carried into society where they will live better and will be exemplary. In a bad home life, children do not experience how to work out problems. Children learn best by example, and if they do not have good examples, there will be a void in their life. Many children today experience confusion; they do not have good examples to draw upon whenever conflict ensues in their life. They are not able to cope as they should or could (Deut. 4:9-10, 6:7, 11:19, Eph. 6:4, 1 Cor. 7:14).
Another Biblical universal truth for husbands and wives to consider is that God created them equal in their relationship to Him. He does not love one over the other. Both are equal. Husbands are to consider their wives as fellow heirs of His Kingdom, which they are. If husbands treated their wives, as Christ loved the Church, there would be greater harmony in relationships and in the world.
In addition, the Word of God tells men to treat women as sisters in Christ. Moreover, when the husband treats his wife as a sister in Christ, they should experience greater respect, unity, and love from her in return.
Therefore, your wife will contribute to the world through Godly behavior and service. She adds so much to life. She contributes and helps in ways her husband might not even be aware of and in ways, he cannot (1 Tim. 5:1-16, 1 Cor. 7, Eph. 5-6, 1 Pet. 3).
1 Peter 3:7: “Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.”
Note a weaker vessel is not speaking of her ordained role; it refers to her physical strength. Her male counterpart is to protect her. God has ordained him to do this.
On pg. 203
God wants individuals to respect authority. As such, structures of authority and government are responsible for exercising good works. They are never to exercise evil in their administration. Governments are universally accountable and are held accountable to God by their application of humanitarian behavior. Stewards of any institution, regardless of position, are responsible for manifesting Godly universal worldwide principles (1 Pet. 2:11-17, Rom. 13, Matt. 25:13-31).
God gives material possessions to us. These are those things that we own or use, our homes, cars, and other material things. These are from God and are blessings from Him. God given possessions produce in us a privilege of ownership. They are given to us so that we may exercise Godly principles as we live our lives and as we help others. Believers are to reflect God in their work, play, and leisure.
We demonstrate our appreciation for God when we live by and apply Biblical universal truths to our lives. Humans were created to reflect God’s image. We are responsible in life to imitate Him in holiness, righteousness, and justice (2 Jn. 1:11, 1 Cor. 11:1, 2 Cor. 5:20-21). We will never be God, but we are absolute universal creations of His love. We are to be subordinate to Him as sons and daughters. We must trust and obey Him as part of the eternal family of God. Believers will give an account at the judgment seat and will receive rewards based on how they lived (1 Corinthians 3:9-23).
2 Corinthians 5:9-10: “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well-pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
On pg. 204
Exact Science is not in Conflict with God
True and accurate science will not contradict God’s Absolute Universal Truths for humanity. In fact, ignoring God’s eternal facts or changing them is spiritually wrong. It is a horrendous and a critical error.
God is always recording our behavior. As such, we are personally accountable for our actions and morality. God will judge us for our sin and misuse of His holy universal standards. God judges not on the basis of humanities science, but by His Word (Jn. 12:48).
God’s Word is the definitive guideline for true science. Whenever we undertake scientific adventures, “the end does not justify the means.” Therefore, evolution, abortion, homosexuality, euthanasia, and atheism, along with their false religious teachings, will never be right and will be righteously judged by God’s Word (Rev. 20:11-15, Ps. 1, 119:9-11, 130, 160, 170).
All contradictions espoused by science that contradict the Word of God are not pure science. They show that science has compromised moral truths changing the truths of God. Man’s scientific theories will hold them accountable at the end when God’s Word judges humanity. This is when every knee will bow down to Him (Jn. 12:48, Rev. 20:11-15, Is. 45:18, 22, 23, Rom. 14:11).
Whenever humanity discovers creation, true scientific discoveries will be kept within God’s nature, and within Dispensational timing. His truths are not contradictory to morals. Facts give Universal Guidelines for exploration and development, and they show symmetry and order. There are eternal truths yet to come to believers in heaven. Believers will always be learning new facts forever and will fulfill God’s plan.
Today we are to know and handle His Word correctly, living as we are discovering and learning Universal Truths according to God’s Word. Scientific disciplines need to be careful. This profession and others are not to violate holiness in their endeavors.
We must not forget that God still performs miracles! Every doctor, teacher, and scientist is given special ability by God. What they learn and apply comes from God. The purpose of their occupation they learned is to help others in life. God opens one’s mind to understanding, and humans are the recipients of the privilege of discovery. Every year whenever one of the professions achieves new knowledge with intelligence and consideration, it is God’s gift. Learning is a miracle in and of itself. A closed mind is sad when humanity cannot see or does not want to give God the glory of this truth.
Dispensational studies should be a part of the discipline of Systematic Theology. When Systematic Theology and Dispensational Universal Operational doctrines of God’s Word are combined, a person finds truth. What is more, dispensations guide us to discover facts. When a Dispensational study is our guide, it will bring glory and honor to God (Rom. 1:18-23, Heb. 1:2, 11:3, 2 Cor. 1:12, 7:1).
Absolute Universal Truths are necessary for humanity. They are inside every Dispensation and are waiting to be discovered. Our discovery of them brings factual consistency to our lives and to history. Absolute Truths, along with the other following six Fundamental Operating Principles, are real.
On pg. 205
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On pg. 208
Chapter 7
Chapters Forward / Goals - Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12.
The last chapter discussed the First of the Seven Operating Mechanical Keys (The Absolute Universal Laws of God) of a Major Dispensation. This chapter will discuss Keys 2 and 3 of the Seven Keys of operation.
Key 2 are the New Rules or (laws) that govern a dispensation, which are different from the previous dispensation.
Key 3 are the rules carried over from the former dispensation and modified rules, which are modified laws that passed from one dispensation to the next.
The Operational System rules of the Major Dispensations will fall into these categories, new rules, carried over rules, and modified rules. They are key rules that govern the New Major Dispensation.
Any of the rules given can fall into two main categories. They can be Absolute Laws (discussed in chapter six), which will be universal Absolute Laws that will not change after given, and those rules that can change in future dispensations being modified.The laws or rules of a dispensation come from God. Humans did not make them, being revealed in His Word (the Bible) by God the Holy Spirit through the prophets, Apostles, and inspired writers of the New Testament (Jn. 14:26, 2 Tim. 3:16). God the Son, Jesus Christ speaks them through the inspired writers for today's world, and thus He still speaks to humanity through the Bible and He illuminates our understanding by the Holy Spirit.
Hebrews 1:1-2: “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;”
The next chapters, eight through eleven will develop the last four dispensational system’s keys. This chapter will focus on two keys, the modified rules with carryover laws, and the new laws.
His plan makes use of the modification and new rules according to the way He designed. When applied, they fulfill the purpose of the design He created. Looking at these two Keys together will reveal the development, which affects and encompass the operation together.
Together the new rules (contains the former and modified rules), and the universal truths making up God’s dispensational plan. The total rules provide the physical, spiritual, temporal, and eternal operational guidelines in a Dispensation. These rules are intended for the success of His dispensational program. They provide the guiding scope for the plan of the dispensation.
Together, these laws operate in a new dispensation along with its ordained stewardship. Remember, stewards are responsible for carrying out the changes.
The former leadership stewards may remain. Yet their responsibilities change according to God’s plan for the new dispensation. The messages under the institution of stewards are responsible for propagating the redemptive message. The memorandum is proclaimed according to the differences that are unique to the rules of operation in the new dispensation.
Remember, it takes all Seven Keys to guide the operation of the system, and they are common among all major dispensations. Without all seven operating or functioning within a dispensation operation, the dispensation will not change. The chapters that follow will discuss this further.
The last three of the Keys would not come into operation if failure did not occur. Failure causes the other functions to occur. Failure brings about the change in a dispensation. Unalterable corruption ends a present dispensation and begins a new dispensation with new stewards.
Nevertheless, if the last three (failure, transition, and Irreversible Punitive Judgment) do not occur, the dispensation would be eternal. Yet we know that the only one that qualifies for that level of victory will be the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time (the Kingdom of God), which never fails.
We must also remember that whenever modification occurs or rules change we need to consult God’s Word.
Humanity does not have the right to fabricate or alter God’s principles. Thus, whenever a regulation of God changes or is modified, God’s Word needs to be consulted. Humanity needs to check the revealed Word of God from a dispensational view. The Bible has to be the guiding principle of evaluation and implementation. Just because humanity passes a law, that does not qualify it to be valid.
For example, God ordained marriage to take place before sexual fulfillment. Any physical relationship outside marriage is evil and wrong. Marriage is between a man and a woman. Any other union is inherently wrong and sinful. Humanity cannot change this Universal truth of God without causing sin.
Making it acceptable does not make it right and holy. Rather, it damages the existence of a sacred absolute, universal institution ordained and given by God. There are modifications of some laws allowed by God. Still, this does not change the perfect supreme universal laws. This is why unlawfulness in marriage has a penalty for disobedience relating to the contractual requirements of the marriage, but otherwise the universal truth of marriage between a man and woman does not change (Matt. 19:1-10, 1 Cor. 6:15-20, 7:1-39). Legal laws may be modified and the ceremonies developed, but it is still only between a man and a woman, and their union only in marriage.
Hebrews 13:4: “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.”
Humanity is to extend judgment on events and actions. They are to honor the holy universal truths of God and keep them functioning untouched and unchanged.
Furthermore, humanity’s accountability is now and for eternity. Leaders are responsible for carrying out God’s universal worldwide truths. Leaders do this as they convey God’s plan for a given dispensation (Rom. 13:1-14, 1 Pet. 2:13-17).
God plans modifications with carryover rules, as stated earlier. They are part of the new regulations. Their modification operates in the dispensation, along with the rules not before revealed. Rule 3, modified rules, is one of the Seven Keys in the system of operational workings when a dispensational change occurs. These changes may affect the scientific discoveries, the living environment, the dietary rule, the governing rules, or the leading stewardship of the dispensation operating at the time and future dispensations, unless changed by Him. When it comes to the dispensation’s operation, God is the final authority!
When a change and implementation occurs, they begin to govern the new dispensation. When the changes relate to absolute truth or absolute moral truth, they will not change the original absolute truth. However, the implementation of the fact can vary in how stewards carry out the dispensation.
For example, murder has always been an absolute truth and wrong. But, the application of just judgment may change in different dispensations. Decisions instituted for the penalty received are different over dispensation operations and can be handled differently depending on the Dispensation.
First, in the Dispensation of Conscience, a mark from God was placed on an individual for murder (Gen. 4:15-16). In the Dispensation of Human Government, a life for a life form of capital punishment was instituted (Gen. 9:5-6).
Later more detail in the governing of the judgment for murder is given and written in the Mosaic Law during the Dispensation of Promise (Ex. 20:13, Num. 35). Then, in the Dispensation of Grace, combined with the just judgment of a court of law, the government convicts and punishes according to the rules established for an execution (Rom. 13:4).
Finally, during the Dispensation of the Kingdom, the execution of an offender after a set period is given to them to repent is applicable (Is. 65:20). However, murder has always been an absolute violation of the moral law of God. God deals in justice, righteousness, and holiness. He is consistent, and His actions do not change from their absolutes.
Remember dispensations and covenants are not the same. Within dispensation operations, there are covenant bonds that the dispensation is stewarding. Additional covenant bonds sometimes came about in a new dispensation.
The difference is critical and necessary to remember. A dispensation operation is not a covenant. Covenant bonds are within the dispensations service. Covenant bonds may find their fulfillment in the current active dispensation; others continue through into the next dispensation. Modified rules within a dispensation operation do not change a covenant bond. Dispensations do not nullify or inverse the covenant bond. A covenant bond is fulfilled according to the original promise made within it, and is given to an individual or a defined group of people (Ps. 105:5, 111:9, Gal. 5:15-17).
Remember, a dispensation will end, and the new one will take full control after completion of the Seven Operating Keys. All Seven System Key essentials bring about a dispensation’s change. Remember, human failure creates the reason for the transformation to a new dispensation operation. Implementation of the rules will never violate or change absolute truth. Covenants continue from one dispensation to another, until fulfilled.
Dispensations contain the information of operation, or the governing rules (new or modified). Within them humanity is responsible to obey and follow. God establishes specific dispensational rules for each particular economy.
Any rule of a dispensation that is modified is required to apply to the entire world. People are responsible for finding their individual-responsibility within it. Even though God has revealed certain-precise stewardship requirements for leadership, He has not excluded anyone from being accountabile. All humanity is responsible for living and seeking God, according to rules outlined in the economy. All believers today have a stewardship mandated by God via the Gospel of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:16-21, Matt. 28:16-20).
A dispensation would never end if humanity did not fail. Since humans fail and will continue to fail, God's redemptive working remains in effect until His long-suffering will finally end. There is no failure that ends the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time. There is no failure of the perfect rule of Christ. Christ judges justly and will send Satan, his followers, and the unregenerate followers of former dispensations into the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20-22).
Those who received God's redemptive gift while alive will receive the promised reuniting of their body and spirit when these believers are resurrected. Some at the Rapture, some at the beginning of the 1,000 year reign of Christ, and then those who lived through the Dispensation of the Kingdom probably at the end, (Possibly with the creation of the New Heaven and New Earth) but not with the non-believers (Eph. 1:13-14, 1 Thess. 4:13-18, Rev. 20:11-15, Ps 1).
The following deals with the modified rules, their modifications, and the application of universal laws that never change the absolute universal truths. There are other rules revealed in a dispensation along with modified rules. Modified rules become applicable for the dispensation operation and possibly the next.
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The Dispensation of Innocence was the first dispensation. During it, everything came into existence, as we know. God created life out of nothing. Many of the universal truths that were in the heart of God before sin, He revealed at this time. From that point on, those truths moved forward into all the dispensations. Some of the present laws will experience a modification in future dispensation’s operations; nevertheless, the Absolute Unconditional Universal Truth will remain.
The following points compare different alterations from nothing in eternity past before the creation of all things by God. The word “alteration” refers to the reality of the environment of eternity past when nothing existed but God. This is because God created everything out of nothing, calling all things, into original existence.
New and Modified Truths in the Dispensation of Conscience:
Fellowship: Shortly after creation, Adam and Eve sinned, at that point, the dispensation started to end. A new operation of the new dispensation’s process began in its infancy until the expulsion where the new dispensation took full control. God revealed new laws that were taking effect for the new dispensation. God expelled them from a perfect environment, the Garden of Eden, which was the Irreversible Punitive Judgment (Gen. 3:22-24).
Note: A perfect environment will not be a reality again until the final dispensation, The Dispensation of the Fullness of Time (Eph. 1:10, Rev. 21:1-4, 22-27, Rev. 22).
God created fellowship as a universal truth, but it changed after sin. A friendship that God established with us changed and those results differ over the dispensations because of sin. Fellowship changed concerning humanity’s relationship with God since the Garden of Eden. Originally, His creation was to have intimate fellowship with Him, and He provided the way, truth, and life for oneness in that fellowship (Jn 14:1, 17:1-26). However, fellowship is absolute truth, but dispensational rule of administration changes through the dispensation.
After sin, humanity’s relationship with God changed. God no longer walked with them in innocence, as in the Garden of Eden, but now walked with them through an animal blood sacrifice atonement or redemptive sacrifice in a fallen world (Rom. 5:17-20).
God walked with them in His plan and promised that a redeemer would be the just payment for human failures (Gen. 3:15).
Note: Humanity’s walk changes throughout the different dispensations. For instance, the atonement sacrifices, the introduction of the priesthood, prophets, kings, and fulfillment of Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead (the Trinity). After sin came into the world, God dealt with humanity through God the Holy Spirit convicting of individual consciences (Gen. 3:8-11 cf., 6:3). This new law was made for humanity's awareness of its sin through the Holy Spirit convicting of the conscience. This conviction leads to either a positive or negative response in terms of our behavior and feelings (Rom. 3:30; 7:5, 7, 13, Rom. 8, Gal. 3:24).
God the Holy Spirit works on humanity’s conscience by convicting good and evil. He will continue working according to the following dispensation operating laws. The Holy Spirit will come upon individuals to empower them to accomplish God's plan (Later in the New Covenant the Holy Spirit indwells believers permanently throughout their life). The working of the Holy Spirit is in conjunction with the agreement of the Godhead's commandments. He carries forth the working of God the Father and Son (Gen. 1:2, 6:3, Acts 7:51, Jn. 14:6, Is. 28:29, Jer. 11:20).
Before the completion of the New Covenant, saints did not have the permanent indwelling by God the Holy Spirit. Instead, He would convict and come upon an individual to perform a specific task and then leave (Ps. 51). However, that changed for believers in the New Covenant and applicable in the operation of the Dispensation of Grace, when the Holy Spirit began to indwell believers until the day of full redemption. This new promise is a part of the New Covenant (Eph. 1:13-14, Jn. 14-16, Rom. 8:1-39, Heb. 9:14).
Our conscience became very important during The Dispensation of Conscience. God brings conviction according to a created cognitive trait (conscience). He put the human conscience within each person, and He works on it with His direct judgment. He works in conjunction with and in accordance to the steward’s responsibility. We can see Him working through the dispensations among the family heads, judges, prophets, priests, kings, and ordained governments.
In the future Dispensation of the Kingdom, the conscience will continue to convict humans as the Holy Spirit struggles with their conscience to do good. His working will be in keeping and accordance with Christ’s rule. Conscience will continue to work throughout the final dispensation. The conscience has a relationship to the human spirit in eternity, but the conscience will not work the same way there for there will be no evil, and thus conviction will not be necessary. This is also because things will be as they were before sin. It will be just like the Garden of Eden. God the Holy Spirit has been working on every human, striving in opposition to evil (Gen. 6:3, Is 45:9).
Diet: Because of sin during the Dispensation of Conscience, humanity no longer had the right to eat of the Tree of Life within the perfect environment (Gen. 3:22-24). This change goes through all the dispensations until the Eternal Kingdom, which is called the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time. In that Dispensation, the Tree of Life will be with us once more (Rev. 22:1-6, Eph. 1:10).
God modified humanity’s diet after the fall in the Garden of Eden. Humans would eat by strenuous labor, but they could not eat of the Tree of Life (Gen. 2:16-19, 24). Their diet consisted exclusively of the fruit of plants when leaving the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:8-9, 15-17). This diet lasted through the Dispensation of Conscience.
This new dispensation law began at the end of the Worldwide Flood of Noah. Humanity’s diet was modified in the next dispensation, the Dispensation of Human Government. Now it included meat. Humans originally were not meat eaters (Gen. 9:3).
God instituted the rules for eating meat, which added to the diet along with vegetation. Dispensational rules given for butchering the animals stated that animals were to be eaten without blood. They had to drain blood from the animal during processing. Meat and vegetation became the dietary mix and rule for Noah and for the Dispensation of Human Government.
The way meat will be consumed will change through the dispensations from eating all kinds of animals without blood (Gen. 9:1-4) to eating only clean animals (non-scavenger animals) then back to eating all types of animals (Lev. 20:25-26). God classified animals as clean and unclean. God’s people were not to eat unclean animals in the Dispensation of Promise. Food restrictions were given according to the ordained law of God. During the Dispensation of Grace, humanity could again eat all classes of animals (Rom. 14, Col. 2:15-23, Acts 10:9-15). Eden’s diet will not be back until the “Millennial” reign of Christ, and it will continue into the eternal dispensation (Is. 11:1-9).
Animals and humans in the Dispensation of Conscience had no fear of being killed by each other. There were animals who by creation were scavengers (unclean animals) and their purpose was to clean up the earth. Animals did not attack and eat each other until after the worldwide flood (Gen. 9:1-2 cf., Is. 11:1-6). They did not have the sense to kill for food or kill in opposition to each other.
The Dispensation of Conscience, animals were used for blood sacrifices. Still, not for food until the Dispensation of Human Government. There is no record before the flood that animals and humans were fearful of each other. However, humans did offer blood sacrifices. God instituted animal blood as a substitutionary requirement for a sin offering as a sacrifice until Christ Jesus finished His atoning work in the Dispensation of Promise (Gen. 3:21-24, 4:1-15).
The first animal sacrifice was by God when He offered an animal and provided clothing for Adam and Eve. The next one was by Abel, and animal sacrifices continued all the way to the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus. His just sacrifice was required for the payment of the penalty of sin (Gen. 3:21, 4:4, Heb. 11:4, 12:24, Eph. 1:7, Col. 1:14, 20).
Environment: A transition into the Dispensation of Conscience began when Adam and Eve sinned. At that point the environment started to break down and their physical bodies began decaying, which would lead to death. Additionally, human livelihood would be by the sweat of one’s efforts. Men and women would now struggle with noxious weeds, thorns, thistles, and even their intimate and personal relationships with each other would be affected and have difficulties.
Animals’ relationships to humans changed, and their nature was now to wait for God's finished work and the full redemption of the new heaven and earth (Gen. 3:14-20, Rom. 5:17-20, 8:18-23, Rev. 21-22). The new heaven and new earth environment, the animal kingdom, will change again in the final dispensation.
Death: Humanity’s relationship to God died spiritually when Adam and Eve sinned. Also, the personal relationship between their own body, soul, and spirit changed (Eph. 2:1-3, 1 Cor. 2:14, Heb. 4-12).
After sin entered the world, humanity became infected with a sinful flesh nature, which became the primary control over its actions. It tainted their decision-making between good and evil. Their physical bodies began to die too. Many changes and laws changed in the Dispensation of Conscience. Sin brought degradation and death to all future descendants.
Note the meaning of death here is not annihilation (obliteration) or unconsciousness but separation. Death is a separation of relationship, including separation from a relationship with God (Rom. 8).
Example: death separates, from earth to heaven for believers, or hell for the non-believer. When transformation occurs, it takes us from a place of being separated spiritually from God to the place of being in relationship with God (Eph. 2:1-10).
When sin and death entered, a new environment started to lead the souls of humans. They would mistakenly listen to their fleshly desires. God no longer directed them nor did they depend on Him but rather they followed their own self-centered behavior.
Satan influenced their behavior instead of their spirit communicating in fellowship with God. They began to walk apart from God’s will and leadership. Holiness, righteousness, and justice became corrupt by humanity's fall (Rom. 3, 5, 7, Eph. 6:12, 2 Cor. 4:4, 11:14).
Humanity began to die physically, even though he had enjoyed much longevity of life up until the Dispensation of Human Government (Gen. 4:8-10, Gen. 5, Rom. 5:12-14). The next dispensation would bring about shorter lifespans for humans.
The human lifespan will not revert back to its original longevity until the millennial reign of Christ (Is. 65:20). In the Eternal Dispensation a human will live forever either in the Lake of Fire or in Heaven (1 Pet. 1:3-5, 1 Jn. 5:13, Rev. 20:10-15, 21:6-9).
Physical death does not mean soul sleep, annihilation, or ceasing to exist. God created humans in His image, and they are eternal (Ecc. 3:9-14, Ecc. 12, 1 Cor. 5:1-8). Physical death is the separation of the spirit and soul from the body, until the resurrection of the physical body.
At death, each human's spirit and soul will spend eternity in one of two places, a place called hell, without the presence of God in torment, or with the redeemed in heaven, in the presence of God (Matt. 25:46, Tit. 1:2).
After the resurrection of nonbelievers’ bodies and spirits from hell, God will unite them with their physical body at the Great White Throne Judgment. They will spend the rest of eternity in the Lake of Fire, according to God’s plan for the Eternal Irresistible Punitive Justice (Jn. 5:26-30, 1 Pet. 1:4, Jude 1:7, Rev. 20:11-15).
Sacrifice: After humanity became sinful, men and woman had to offer animal sacrifices to atone for their sin(s). God provided the first animal sacrifice for humanity when He sacrificed an animal for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. He provided an offering that served as a blood sacrifice. In addition, this animal was used to cover their nakedness (Gen. 3:21, Heb. 9:22).
The need for animal blood sacrifices began during the Dispensation of Conscience. These animals were sacrificed and were a temporary covering for sin. The just and permanent payment of sin would not take place until Jesus Christ. The LORD Jesus Christ provided the one sufficient blood payment for eternity.
Atonement has always demanded a blood sacrifice in order to be adequate. There is a sacrifice needed for recompense, and it must meet the just payment required for sin (Heb. 9, Eph. 1:7, Col. 1:14, 20). Before the incarnation, sin was only covered until the finished work of the Lord Jesus. However, His blood sacrifice provided and still provides eternal forgiveness. His sacrifice was the perfect offering because He was and is a perfect God. As such, anyone who receives Him as their Lord and their Savior receives complete forgiveness (Jn. 1:12, 3:16, Rom. 3, 6:23, 10:9).
Romans 5:9: “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.”
2 Corinthians 5:21, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Christ Jesus provides change. He is the offeror and offering of the blood sacrifice. Remember, the dispensational change regarding sacrifice that was, is no longer by humans who offered blood sacrifices at the cost of an animal. Rather, now God incarnate, the Lord Jesus Christ, was the sacrifice.
He sacrificed Himself for all of humanity and His sacrifice empowered the New Covenant. His blood sacrifice was sufficient for the payment for those who would accept Him as LORD and Savior! Our Lord Jesus made the sacrifice humanity could not give because it took a sinless, perfect payment that only God could provide through His coming to earth and accomplishing forgiveness through the hypostatic union (Jn. 1:1, 12). The LORD Jesus Christ took on God’s wrath to give us a home in heaven forever. He is the gift and the payment for eternal life. Only He could accomplish what we could not (Rom. 6:23).
Romans 7:8-9: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.”
Philippians 2:7-8: God the Son, “taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
The need for a sacrificial offering started in the Dispensation of Conscience. Humans became slaughterers of animals so that they could atone for their sins. This continued until Christ's finished work on the cross (Heb. 9).
God's incarnation, the covenant operation moving forward in the dispensations, changed with Christ's finished work. As a result, we are no longer under the First Stage of the Redemptive Covenant. Now we are under the New Covenant, which is the Second Stage of the Redemptive Covenant. God was fulfilling the New Covenant within the covenant as it moved through Stage One into Stage Two (Gal. 4:4, Rom. 3:22-25, Phil. 2:7-10).
Humans are now responsible for the propagation of the fulfillment of the New Covenant. Believers are to spread the facts of the New Covenant and the Gospel to the world, which is dispensational (Matt. 28:18-20, Rom. 10:14-21, Is. 52:7). May we always broadcast, disseminate, and transmit the gospel message!
2 Corinthians 5:16-21: “Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him, who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Since the Dispensation of Conscience, humanity had to communicate the truth needed for a sin covering. This means, they were to share and transmit it along, including details about the requirements of animal blood sacrifices. Yet this was only a temporary just payment for their sin(s). Still, humans were responsible for communicating this knowledge to future generations. They even taught their children how to make sacrifices.
Sacrifices were considered adequate by God when given with an attitude of faith and conviction. In this dispensation the family head was primarily responsible for being the priest of his family. There are many examples of this recorded in Scripture, one of the most famous being the sacrifice that Job made for his family (Job 1:1-5, Heb. 9:22, 11:4, Deut. 6:6-9).
New additional laws relating to sacrificial offerings were brought about through the Priesthood Ordained Institution. The priesthood is modification through the dispensations' operation from family head to the Levitical Priesthood, and finally to priesthood-ministry of Christ Jesus, and His finished work of redemption for the remission of sins (Hebrews 7:27, 9:12, 10:10, Rom. 6:10).
Theocracy: During The Dispensation of Conscience, God directly and singlehandedly judged humanity for murder. The example of Cain and Abel shows us God’s institution, a Theocracy that is rule from God. Genesis 4:9-16 for instance details the just punishment on Cain by God. However, God’s direct rule changed in the next dispensations. The next Dispensation’s government was established with organized judgment. Humans were commissioned to carry out God's rules, comprised of ordained individuals. Humanity was to be subordinate to God’s Word and supreme laws.
The futures earthly kingdom is where God personally rules directly on earth (The Dispensation of the Kingdom). He is the supreme head of the world's government along with His glorified saints (Is. 9:7). All nations of the world are taught and are under the Messiah's rule as King of all (Is. 2:2-4, Dan. 7:14, Matt. 25:31-46, 1 Cor. 6:2-3).
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New and Modified Truths in the Dispensation of Human Government, kings, priests, languages, and the scattering of humanity.
Earth’s atmosphere and living environment changed in this dispensation. A canopy of vapor that resided over the planet no longer existed. Physical oceans and mountains appeared, animals died off (dinosaurs), instead of dew as a means to water plants, rain began to fall, and rainbows were first seen.
The rainbow is a promise (a covenant) from God signifying that He would never again flood the whole earth in judgment (Gen. 2:5-6, 7:11, 9:12-17).
The book The Genesis Flood: The Biblical Record and its Scientific Implications is a 1961 book by young-Earth creationists John C. Whitcomb and Henry M. Morris. I highly recommend it! It covers many of the topics about the flood and creation in great-detail.
The following are specific things to know.
This new Dispensation’s mandate having humanity govern others is truly dispensational (Gen. 9:9-17). In this Dispensation, the covenant refers to the worldwide destruction and a covenant rainbow.
God was talking about a worldwide flood judgment that had just occurred on earth, and the future Irreversible Punitive Judgments (Gen. 9:9-17).
It is a predicted prophecy that the old earth will pass away, but not with a worldwide flood. A New Earth will come at the end of the Dispensation of the Kingdom, as revealed in Scripture (Rev. 21:1).
The earth and humanity would be a recipient of the covenant bond of the rainbow. When you see a rainbow, you are seeing a sign of this covenant. This promised covenant will last until the end of the earth (Gen. 8:18-22).
Therefore, in the following dispensations the irreversible punitive judgments will be different, but humans will still remain until all of God’s plan is fulfilled on this earth.
In Genesis 11, the sin of the Tower of Babel brought the confounding of the languages and dispersed people across the globe. This was the beginning of a transition period.
There was the scattering of humanity across the world transitioning into the next dispensation, being the Irreversible Judgment on this dispensation. Humanity experienced changes in their languages and became dislocated across the globe to places that God determined.
Changes in skin color and features could have happened at this time. Also, the different people-groups formed nations and communities and fell into Scriptural silence from this point, except whenever they encountered the promised people of God.
Within Genesis 10:25, the phrase stating that the earth “was divided” is a reference to God’s judgment. The Irreversible Punitive Judgment was on the people in this Dispensation, the Dispensation of Human Government. We see in Genesis 10, references to different languages, and humanity scattering into other areas (Gen. 10:5, 18, 20).
This was the beginning of the Dispensation of Promise in transition where God chose a particular people-group to be His messengers who would speak His message to the world (Gen. 12:1-3). Chapter 10 will expound on the transitions of each dispensation, when these changes for the world where forming.
New and Modified Truths in the Dispensation of Promise:
God chose an individual, Abram and changed His name to Abraham. The name change was part of a promise given to him personally (Gen. 17:1-8). God chose Abraham’s descendants through Abraham’s union with Sarah, and this union was meant to work out His dispensation in blessing the world. Thus it was called the Dispensation of Promise (Neh. 9:7-8, Gen. 12:1-7, 17:15-22, 21:11-12, Gal. 3:7-9).
In the future, Abraham was to be the father of many nations. Jesus was his direct descendent when He came to earth. Redemption was then offered to all who would trust Christ by faith as Abraham did in his lifetime (Rom. 4, Gal. 3:25-29, Gen. 22:15-19, Tit. 3:5, Eph. 2:8-9). Abraham’s descendants of Israel received a promise that they would possess the land of the Canaanites forever (Gen. 12:5-7, 13:14-17, 15:6-8, 17-20, 17:8, 18:17-19, 24:7, 28:10-22).
Abraham’s personal promise by God was fulfilled through his personal descendants. Christ Jesus came from Israel to be the redemptive provision. This made Abraham the father of faith of many nations (Rom. 4, cf., Gen. 22:15-19, Gal. 3:16, Jas. 2:18-26).
Abraham was first called a Hebrew in God’s Word in Genesis 14:13 (meaning “One from the other side of the river,” which refers to the Euphrates where he lived at the time of God’s call on his life).
The language of the modern state of Israel is Hebrew and from what the Old Testament writing is mostly transcribed. Very little of it was from Aramaic. Abraham crossed-over from the pagan beliefs of his world to trust and obey Jehovah God. He became a special father of a particular nation. His transformation by the eternal God was by grace alone (Josh. 24:1-3, Rom. 4:9-12). Abraham and his chosen descendants were vessels in God’s plan. They were to represent Him as His stewardship Nation and were to bring to the world the blessings of His incarnation and Kingdom.
The world was to be blessed through Abraham and his descendants. Therefore, the Hebrew nation would receive benefits from God. For example Jacob’s name was changed to Israel, which was comprised of the twelve sons of Israel and that would culminate with Christ Jesus the Lord and King (Gen. 12:1-7, 21:11-12, Gal. 3:7-9).
For the world to be “saved” in this dispensation, they needed desperately to accept the God of the chosen people. This was the requirement through the entire Dispensation of Promise (Is. 55, 56:1-8). For example Ruth was a Moabite but she chose the God of the chosen people (Ruth 1:16).
At the start, the redeemer of humanity had been coming through individuals other than descendants from the Nation of Israel (Adam to Abraham). Now the birth line would be from Abraham’s great-grandchild contained in the Nation of Israel in the Dispensation of Promise (Gen. 3:15, Lk. 3:34-38). The “promised-one” was the final-result of this birth line.
This promise would be fulfilled through Abraham’s seed in Christ, the Savior, the eternal God, who would take on human flesh. He would provide deliverance from sin and its penalty. His forgiveness for the human race is offered free. It makes individuals children of God’s redemptive plan. This gift is available to anyone who will receive Him and His sacrifice (Is. 9:6, Matt. 1:22-23, Heb. 2:14, Jn. 1:1, 14, Phil. 2:5-11).
God’s plan of redemption is free to anyone who exercises faith in Jesus. Abraham showed confidence through faith. Anyone today, who puts his or her faith in Jesus, receives Him as Lord. They receive eternal life at the very moment they come to Him in faith (Rom. 10:9, 13). They also receive a future ending as recipients of the “New Heaven and New Earth” for eternity (Jn. 1:12, 1 Jn. 5:9-14, Eph. 2:8-10, 1 Pet. 1:3, 4, Rev. 21:1, 22:12-19). All dispensations that result from the finished works of this redemptive covenant are to carry out the Everlasting Covenant, which is the Absolute Universal Covenant.
The prophetic promise of Genesis 3:15, was passed down to Abraham and his descendants through His great-great-grandson Judah (Gen. 49:9-12). Jesus, the "Promised One" by covenant bond, came through the heritage of Judah.
An Absolute Universal Principle is that God would bless the world through the chosen steward instrument He had ordained. Furthermore, the chosen steward instruments are to bless the world by living as God directs them and by proclaiming the Promised Seed, Jesus (Is. 56:1-8).
God’s instruments within the Stewardship Institutions have changed throughout the dispensations. Stewardship changed from the family head to the Nation of Israel then to the Body of Christ, which is today’s church.
At the ending of the tribulation, the Dispensation of the Millennial Kingdom, the entire faithful stewards of the previous dispensations will gather. They will be glorified and will praise the Lord Jesus Christ as they reign with Him. He will rule the earth as He sits on the throne of David in the Dispensation of the Earthly Kingdom. Christ will rule with the glorified stewards of the previous dispensations and with Israel and those in the millennial reign who are still in their natural bodies. After the Dispensation of the Earthly Kingdom, there will be an eternal dispensation, the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time. All the saved stewards from all the dispensations’ operations will be subordinate and faithful servants under the Godhead for all eternity.
Today's world experiences blessings through the Gospel's messages of the stewards. The gospel is the steward's message of God the Son (an Absolute Universal Principle).
Stewardship is ordained in each dispensation to bless the world bringing the Redemptive Covenant to others. For example, it moves from individuals to the Nation of Israel to all believers (both Jews and Gentiles).
Before Israel, individuals were the stewards of blessing to the world. There was no specified race name given from Seth through Shem to Abraham. After however the stewardship Nation, the Nation of Israel, (Jews) became stewards and today the stewardship message, is carried out by the Body of Christ on equal responsibility (Both Jews and Gentiles from all Nations).
The future stewardship of the earthly kingdom will be under the Lord Jesus Christ. He will sit on the throne of David with all the redeemed in the Dispensation of the Earthly Kingdom. The eternal stewardship of the redeemed will be in the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time. This Eternal Kingdom is the last recorded change.
The land received from God became the chosen people’s land that was also His Nation. They were to spend an ordained time (430 years) in Egypt until the sin of the inhabitants reached the fullness of evil. The land of Canaan was promised to Israel (Gen. 15:16). God’s judgment would come upon the Canaanite inhabitants of the area through Abraham’s descendants that were God’s instruments of a just punishment (Gen. 15:12-16). The Canaanites were very evil when the time of their judgment arrived.
Abraham had children from two woman other than Sarah, Hagar and then Keturah was his wife after Sarah’s death. There is no Biblical record of gifts given to Keturah’s children by Abraham. He only sent them away to the east. Abraham gave all his possessions to the promised people through Isaac and Jacob who were the descendants of Sarah and himself (Gen. 25:1-6, 26:1-6, 1 Chron. 1:32-33).
The land that was given by God to the Nation of Israel was deeded to them and not to Ishmael the son of Hagar (Gen. 16, 17:17-27, 21:1-19, 25:12-18). In reading the account, we find that Ishmael’s descendants were going to be a problem as they lived east, southeast, and today northeast of the Israelite people. Still, ownership of the land would belong to the Nation of the Jewish people, Jacob’s descendants (Gen. 15:17-21).
Besides Ishmael, there are Esau’s descendants. They had caused problems, which have lasted through to the present day. Both of these families, when trying to settle the conflicts in the Middle East, need to be taken into account. The relationship of Esau’s children were to be subordinate to the children of Jacob, his twin brother (Gen. 25:20-34, 26:34-35, 27:1-46, 28:1-28).
Today we still see these struggles occurring, and governments need to be serious in considering this truth when attempting to settle problems in the Middle East (Gen. 16:1-12, 21:1-21, 25:12-18).
Even though Esau was a Hebrew, he never became part of the Jewish Nation of Israel. The 12 tribes of the Nation came from Jacob’s descendants. Jacob’s name was changed to Israel (Gen. 32:28). The twelve tribes of Israel came from Jacob’s 12 children. They were by two different wives and two separate handmaids.
A descendant through Abraham and His wife Sarah was Isaac, and through Isaac and His wife Rebecca, Jacob was born. Through Jacob and his wives Rachel and Leah and their handmaidens Bilhah and Zilpah, the twelve sons were born (Gen. 29:31-35, 30:1-24, 35:18, 22-25). There were then:
Note: Lord Jesus, God incarnate, came through Judah's line through Jacob’s wife Leah (Gen. 29:35, Matt. 2:1-6, Lk. 3:23-27).
God chose the nation of Israel in the Dispensation of Promise, to bring the Redemptive Covenant, the First Stage to the New Covenant and the Second Stage of the Redemptive Covenant to fulfillment. He did this to complete the work of redemption with the Savior of the world (Gal. 4:4, Jn. 1:11-12).
God gave the seal of circumcision as a promised seal to the Nation of Israel. It would be an everlasting seal of the promise given in the Dispensation of Promise for Israel (Gen. 17:8-27, 21:1-5). However, while circumcision was a requirement for this dispensation, it ceased to be a physical requirement in the next dispensation, the Dispensation of Grace (1 Cor. 7:19, Gal. 2:3, 3:11, 5:6, 6:13, 15, Col. 2:11).
Self-awareness was one of the main reasons the Law of Moses was given. It was revealed to make individuals aware of their sinfulness and was given in the Dispensation of Promise (Gal. 3:16-20).
The Levitical priesthood office took the place of the priests from the former dispensations. Melchizedek and Moses’ father-in-law were the last recorded priests before Israel’s Levitical priesthood was mentioned in Scripture (Gen. 14:18-20, Heb. 7:1, Ex. 3:1, 18).
New prophets emerged from the Nation of Israel, not other nations. Balaam was the last prophet mentioned who lived before the Nation of Israel. Balaam lived into the transition of dispensations. He was a disobedient prophet operating in the former Dispensation (Num. 22-24, 31). God called Abraham a prophet and declared him to be, the first prophet of the Dispensation of Promise (Gen. 20:1-2, 6-7).
Leadership through kings developed to lead Israel, the promised Nation until the King of kings, Christ Jesus our Lord, who would sit on David’s throne forever would come (Gen. 35:10-11, Deut. 17:14-18, 1 Sam. 2:10).
Israel rejected theocracy under God’s direct leadership in favor of a government ruled by a King (1 Sam. 8:6-10, 10:24). Saul was the man the people chose to be their first king, but he was not the choice that God wanted. David was the chosen king by God along with his descendants after him (1 Sam. 16:1, 13, 2 Sam. 2:4).
David’s descendants within the Dispensation of Promise were to rule until Messiah, then the LORD Jesus the Messiah would take His appointed possession as the ruler on David’s throne (1 Sam. 28:17, 2 Sam. 2:4, 5:12, 7, Is. 6:1, 9:6-7, Lk. 1:33, Rev. 17:14, 19:16). Governmental leadership changed from the direct theocratic form of government to the kingship government with the Levitical priesthood office, and finally there will be the King of kings, the Lord Jesus Christ.
In the Dispensation of Promise, details are given that outline worship practices regarding the Levitical Priesthood. Eventually the atonement sacrifice and faith offered in the Levitical priesthood were replaced. Christ Jesus, the Lord, fulfilled the qualification entirely and became the one and only priest. The Lord replaced the priesthood of the Mosaic Law. He alone was qualified for ownership of the priesthood office (Heb. 2:7, 3:1, 4:14-15, 5:1-10, 6:20, 7:26-28, 8:1-3, 9:11-25, 10:21, 13:11).
The details of government rules along with information about the atoning sacrifice were given during the Dispensation of Promise. The atoning sacrifice was for the people and was to be superintendent through prophets, priests, and under the governmental rules of the kings. Even though Israel did not have a king in the Gospel period because of Roman rule, the priesthood still operated (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John).
During the Dispensation of Promise, the priest applied the sin sacrifice at the altar. Today redemption for humanity and faith are directed through the New Covenant’s mediator Jesus Christ (1 Tim. 2:5, Heb. 8:6, 9:15, 12:24).
Jesus Christ, the Lord, fulfilled the atonement offering. He brought the First Stage of the Redemptive Covenant to an end. Wherewithal, the Levitical priesthood was over, and a new Priesthood began called the Priesthood of Christ Jesus. This completed the redemptive promise. Almighty God completed it, “once and for all time.” This was the start of the Second Stage of the Redemptive Covenant.
Reminder, the covenant never has changed from the original planned in eternity past and the LORD Jesus was the pivoting point from stage one to stage two. The dispensation had changes in carrying the Covenant forward from the Levitical Priesthood to Christ priesthood. The new rule was that believers were to propagate the Gospel pointing to the Lord Jesus Christ.
The preeminent LORD Jesus Christ was the eternal offering and sacrifice given by God, Himself, for the payment of all sins (Rom. 5, Jn. 1:1, 14, Hebrews 5, 6:13-20, 8, 9). The Lord Jesus Christ was the just one required for the sins of humanity. His plan of redemption is applied whenever an individual receives Jesus Christ personally by faith. When Jesus Christ is accepted, individuals are transformed from their lost condition because of their willingness to repent (2 Cor. 7:10, Rom. 10:9-13).
During the Dispensation of Promise, the New Covenant was empowered at Pentecost through the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). This completed the First Stage of the Redemptive Covenant. The next three dispensations would be in accord to the New Covenant. The empowered indwelling of God the Holy Spirit was the leading authority and provision for redemption as things progressed into the Second Stage of the Redemptive Covenant. “New” dispensational rules were added according to the New Covenant, spreading this finished work of God to the world (Matt 28:18-20).
Melchizedek and Moses’ father-in-law were the last priests before the priesthood transitioned into the Levitical priesthood (Ex. 3:1, 18). These were the last recorded priests mentioned outside the Nation of Israel and that came from the old dispensation of human government (Gen. 14:18-20, Heb. 7:1, 11-13).
The last prophet mentioned who was not from the Nation of Israel was the disobedient prophet Balaam, who was also from the former dispensation (Num. 22-24, 31). He appears in the Transition, which is a Key of the Seven Operating Systems Principles. A transition is occurring as the remnants of an old dispensation are still disappearing, and the new dispensation operation is beginning to take full control. Melchizedek, Moses’ father-in-law and Balaam were all around during the Dispensation of Promise.
After Abraham, and after the Hebrews spent time in Egypt, Israel received the Law of Moses, along with the Mosaic Covenant. Moses, a prophet of God, delivered the law to the nation, and a covenant was made at Mount Sinai to benefit the children of Israel (Deut. 34:10).
The Law of Moses modified and added many new laws for Israel’s obedience. These laws governed this Dispensation of Promise from that point on. Israel’s economy, their behavior, stewardship, and worship were responsible for following the two documents, the Mosaic Covenant and the Mosaic laws.
The Law of Moses modified the former laws and added them to the Dispensation of Promise (Gal. 3:16-20). The Mosaic Law revealed humanity's sinfulness to them through clear objective truths. Moreover, the priesthood changed to Levites. The Mosaic Law added new and modified laws to the Dispensation of Promise.
Israel rejected theocratic rule in favor of a government ruled by King Saul, who sinned that caused God to reject him for future leadership. David was chosen by God to be king and rule. He would replace the former king and his descendants (1 Sam. 8:6-10, 10:24).
Israel’s ruler, David and his descendants were to rule from that time until the coming of the King of kings. That King would be born in the Dispensation of Promise. He would be the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Messiah (2 Chron. 9:7-8, 1 Sam. 28:17, 2 Sam. 2:4, 5:12, 7, Is. 9:6-7, Lk. 1:33, Is. 6:1, Rev. 17:14, 19:16). The Messiah was forever to lead the promised Nation’s Kingdom from David’s throne (Gen. 35:10-11, Deut. 17:14-18, Jud. 17:6, 1 Sam. 2:10).
The walk of faith for humanity changed through the dispensation. It went from being a Theocratic government, before Moses, to a kingship government with the Levitical priesthood. In the end and for eternity the priesthood ministry of Christ Jesus would be the fulfillment of the New Covenant.
Animal sacrifices continued with animal blood shedding throughout the dispensation. A human priest for the individuals offered them in faith. The human priest continued to offer animal sacrifices until the finished work and implementation of the eternal priesthood of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ blood was shed for salvation to fulfill the redemptive legal requirement of a man’s or a woman’s’ sin (Eph. 1:7, Col. 1:14).
Faith has always been a prerequisite for obedience to God. Faith is expressed through one’s behavior and offerings of appreciation to God. Jesus imputes His righteousness into those who express faith in Him personally (Rom. 4:1-10, 10:9-13, 11, Eph. 2:8-10, Jas. 2:14-26, Rom. 10:9-13). Our faith comes from God as a gift and is expressed outwardly by our life in relationship with God in Christ Jesus, the eternal mediator (Eph. 2:8-9, 1 Jn. 5:9-14).
God redirected the priesthood away from the Levitical priesthood (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John). God redirected humanity’s redemption through faith in the one mediator Jesus Christ. The Almighty LORD Jesus Christ brought the fulfillment to the atonement offering and started a new priesthood. The Lord completed redemption “once and for all” through a new priesthood ministry. The priesthood of Christ Jesus is eternal (1 Tim. 2:5, Heb. 8:6, 9:15, 12:24).
God Himself gave this redemptive offering and sacrifice as the just payment required for the sins of humanity (Jn. 1:1, 14, Heb. 5; 6:13-20, 8, 9).
The redemption that was and that is offered through Christ Jesus’ priesthood is free to those who receive Him personally by faith (Eph. 2:1-2, Rom. 6:23, 10:9-13).
As you progress through each dispensation, you will discover that there are modifications. While laws change, a dispensation’s operation are the basic rules remaining constant, especially the Absolute Universal statutes or regulations. All through a dispensation’s operation, the stewardship office remains the same as well. Stewardship starts transitioning to the next institution where new stewards begin.
The mitzvot (commandments) or laws are under the Dispensation of Promise. Jewish tradition teaches that there are 613 commandments or Laws (for more information see the index and follow the topics listed alphabetically along with their Biblical references).
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The Mystery dispensation, today’s dispensation is an overlaying of the Dispensation of Promise, whose full transition will eventually take place into the Dispensation of the Kingdom (2 Thess. 2:5, 6, Rom. 11:25, 16:24-27, 26, Eph. 3:1-12, Col. 1:25-28). However, the transition into the Dispensation of the Kingdom will start when the Mystery Dispensation is over at the Rapture. At that point, believers will be gone, and nonbelievers will be left (to perish in the tribulation). This will be completed with Christ Jesus the Lord coming to earth and ruling as King during the Millennium.
God, in His eternal plan and foreknowing prepared for the failures and choices made by Israel. The Dispensation of Grace took full control over the Dispensation of Promise by AD 70. Today’s mystery is part of the Irreversible Punitive Judgment on the Nation of Israel and completes with the prophesied Tribulation, the 70th week of Daniel. Nevertheless, a new mystery dispensation is beginning in infancy (Acts 8).
The Nation of Israel’s relationship to God and the world changed from that moment on. Israel as a Nation no longer had the unique active position it once held. They were no longer the only dispensing stewards. All believers today are responsible before God in carrying out stewardship activities. Today believers are to propagate the New Covenant for humanity’s redemption so that others may be saved and sanctified (2 Cor. 5:18-21, Is. 46:9, 10, 43:10-11). Today all believers, no matter their race, nationality, or sex, have equal responsibility in presenting the Gospel to the world (Rom. 1:16, 10:9-13). Believers are to use the special gift God has given them in spreading the Gospel (1 Cor.12, Rom 12:1-2).
However, Scripture teaches that God is not finished with the Nation of Israel. Today nations receive blessings or curses according to how they treat Israel. A nation’s relationship with the Nation of Israel is very important. When nations recognize and protect the Nation of Israel, God looks favorably on them. These blessings happen because of the promises and eternal endearment from God Who is not finished with the plan He promised Israel (Isa. 27:7-12).
God uses the Dispensation of Grace as part of the Irreversible Punitive Judgment on the former dispensation with Israel. It is a disciplinary judgment before the final refining judgment of the prophesied Tribulation period. The Jewish people are expected to (and will) accept the Messiah Jesus as their Savior and Lord. God will pick up where he left off in His plan for Israel’s stewardship after the Rapture (Matt. 1:21, Acts 7:51-56, 13:45-46, 15:13-19, 18:6, 28:25-28, Rom. 10-11, Is. 25:9, 46:13).
Satan was spoiled again for he thought that Israel’s failure to accept the Lord Jesus Christ would keep Gentiles from experiencing eternal salvation. Satan failed to tempt our Lord. He also failed at the crucifixion when Jesus rose again. The Dispensation of Grace offers salvation to all on equal basis. It is an opportunity to whoever will receive the offer (Jn. 1:12, Rom. 1:16).
After the completion and the failure of today’s dispensation, God will go back and will finish dealing with His chosen Nation. In so doing He will fulfill His promises that were promised to them by the covenant given to Abraham (Rom. 11:1-24, 25-29, 1 Tim. 4:1-5, 2 Tim. 3:1-8). He will resume His relationship where He left off in the first century by calling Israel as a Nation to repent. He will implore them to turn towards Jesus. He is their only Savior for their fallen nature and sin. This is an encouragement to any Jew. They must accept the truth taught in Isaiah 25:9. Jesus is the Messiah, the one they have been waiting for.
After the Rapture, God will restore the Nation of Israel to be the Major Steward for the world during the transition into the next dispensation. Their stewardship for the world starts at the Rapture, so the world can continue to respond and experience the Redemptive Covenant personally on the basis of faith (Is. 2:1-4, Is. 11, Is. 12, 46:13, Rev. 7).
Note: Any Jew saved today will go to heaven at the Rapture. Afterward, there will be those who experience conversion in the tribulation period. According to God's plan, He will then separate the sheep from the goats as He planned (Matt. 24-25).
It is my hope that Jewish individuals who have never heard or who have rejected the Gospel message of Christ Jesus (Messiah Savior) will choose Him as their savior (Is. 13, Rev. 1-7, Rom. 9).
The historical record ended with the Dispensation of Promise in the book of Acts. Chapters one through seven of Acts chronicle the period by which the Nation of Israel was called to repentance. Chapters seven through twenty-eight record the transition to the Dispensation of Grace. The stoning of Stephen stands as their final rejection of Jesus. This takes place at the end of chapter seven. They were rejecting Stephen’s message. Stephen asked the leaders to repent, but they refused his message and consequently they refused the Holy Spirit of God.
The stoning of Stephen started the next dispensation, the Dispensation of Grace, the Mystery Dispensation. Jesus Christ was standing in judgment at Stephen’s stoning (Acts 7:51-60) and it began the transition into today’s dispensation operation, the Dispensation of Grace. From the stoning of Stephen, the Dispensation of Grace has been progressively taking control. The dispensation was fully-operational after Acts 28 with the destruction of Israel’s Temple in AD 70. Chapters eight through twenty-eight record the transition into the full operation of Mystery Transition period.
This Mystery Dispensation is a continuation of the period of "The Time of the Gentiles." The Dispensation of Grace or Mystery was the final event of judgment on the Nation of Israel. It ended the Dispensation of Promise. The events that led up to the Israel’s failure and dispensational judgment on Israel started back during the time of captivity.
Incidents resulting from their disobedience began in the Old Testament when they rejected God the Father (Mal. 1). Instead of Israel and the world going into the period called the Tribulation-period, including “The Great Tribulation,” God revealed His Mystery Dispensation (Col. 1:25-26, Rom. 16:25-29, Eph. 3:9).
“The Time of the Gentiles” began with the Northern 10 tribes going into captivity at the hands of the Assyrians. Later the Southern two tribes went into captivity at the hands of Babylon (Lk. 21:24, Dan. 12:1-4, Matt. 24:15, 21, Mk. 13:14, Rev. 2:22; 7:9, 14, 2 Thess. 2:1-6).
The time of the Gentile's rule over Israel will end when Christ Jesus returns to earth. He will return at the end of the transition of the "Tribulation" period, which includes "The Great Tribulation." The second coming is not the Rapture, but Christ's literal return (Lk. 21:24, Dan. 12:1-4, Matt. 24:15, 21, Mk. 13:14, Rev. 2:22; 7:9, 14, 2 Thess. 2:1-6.).
Hidden, the Dispensation of Grace has been a mystery prophetically concealed by God. God planned the mystery in eternity past before creation. Israel’s failure as a Nation resulted in judgment and their loss of stewardship status (Rom. 11:11-12, 25-27, Col. 1:26-27, Eph. 3:9).
Each dispensational change from "Promise to Grace" is uniquely part of one of the elements of Irreversible Punitive Judgment on the Nation of Israel. (Acts 7, 7:51, 15:6-21, 18:4-7, 28:25-29).
Today God is continuing to use Gentile nations as his instrument of judgment of oppression on his chosen people (Is. 27:7-9). Today’s dispensation is not the final judgment on their Nation. The other judgment is coming, the prophesized tribulation period (Ending with The Battle of Armageddon).
Today the Church, called His Body is the steward. The Church is called His Body in the Mystery Dispensation. God planned the Mystery Dispensation before creation. His mystery plan was to save all believers equally. Salvation and stewardship are mandated equally for a witness to others (Rom. 11, Eph. 1:3-6, 2 Cor. 5:14-28).
Today’s dispensation gives all believers’ part of the spiritual blessings that were exclusively Israel’s before (Rom. 15:27, Eph.1:3, 2, Gal. 4:26). Today’s believers are children of God who have a personal relationship with God through Christ Jesus. They are indwelled with the Holy Spirit and are promised abundant blessings (Rom. 2:4, 8:16, 9:23, 11:12, 33, Eph. 1:13, Phil. 2:12-16, Jn. 1:12).
Believers today wait for the glorification of their physical bodies at the Rapture. The last trump of the ending of this dispensation, and their spirit and body will be united together. The Rapture includes all saints of the former dispensations correspondingly.
Note: The last trump mentioned with the rapture is not the ending of the world or the ending of the tribulation period. The “last trump” is for the Mystery, or Grace Dispensation. The phraseology is reference to a major ending to an event (1 Thess. 4:16, 1 Cor 15:50-55). It is meant to unite the believers’ spirits and bodies together and to give them their eternal characteristics from all dispensations previous (1 Thess. 4:13-18, 1 Cor.15:35, 38, 42-55, Phil. 3:21, Matt. 22:30, Lk. 20:34-36, Is.26:19).
When Christ returns to rule on earth and reigns in His Kingdom, believers will experience their portion of the promise given to them and will participate in the Kingdom. They will receive the promises of assurance given them for faithfulness in today’s Dispensation (Col. 3:4, 1 Thess. 4:14, 2 Tim. 4:8, 1 Cor. 6:2-3, 2 Cor. 5:10).
Believers are receiving today their spiritual portion of the covenant. Still, God’s promises along with Israel’s will be given to them (Phil. 3:20, Eph. 2:6-13) during the Millennial reign of Christ. All believers in today’s dispensation will be representing Him giving judgment to the Nations and Angels (1 Cor. 6:2-3). Believers of this dispensation receive their glorified bodies at the Rapture that occurs before the tribulation period and the Dispensation of the Kingdom.
Please note that 1 Corinthians 6:2-3 speaks of a future time when judgment will still be needed with transformed glorified believers. The future rulings will be in demand. This will be directed by King Jesus during the time when nonbelievers in physical bodies will be here in the Dispensation of the Kingdom (the Dispensation of the Earthly 1,000 year Kingdom). Believers in the Millennial Reign will rule subordinate to Christ as He rules as King here on the whole earth.
Remember, there will be no need for judgment of humans and Angels in the Eternal Kingdom because the Irreversible Punitive Judgment of the Great White Throne Judgment will have already occurred. All non-believers and Satan will have been sent to the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:10-15, 21-22). Therefore, the period outlined in 1 Corinthians 6:2-3 most likely refers to a time earlier than the last dispensation. A time earlier than the final Dispensation of the Fullness of Time, it is a time when human judgment will still be necessary.
All believers since the beginning of the world will experience resurrection at the Rapture. They will also receive their rewards as promised. There rewards were earned at the time of their life here on earth, according to the dispensation in which they were living (1 Thess. 4:13-18, 2 Cor. 5:10). 1 Corinthians 15:21-23, prophesied of the different resurrections at different times. There are different resurrections, but all believers who lived since the beginning of the world to the Rapture will be with Christ at the end of the Dispensation of Grace (1 Thess. 4:13-18).
Still, there will be a resurrection at the end of the Tribulation period going into the Dispensation of the Kingdom. This resurrection is for those who died by martyrdom. Finally, those from the Dispensation of the Kingdom, going into the eternal dispensation; this is the last resurrection of saints, and is at the end of the Millennial reign of Christ, going into the New Heaven and New Earth, the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time (Rev. 20: 4-5, Dan. 12:1-4).
The resurrection of believers is not the mystery. However, the timing of their transformation is a mystery. Prophecy does not specify the time when resurrection will occur for humanity before the Rapture. A foretold resurrection was to be in the last days, but not the exact time (Is. 26:19, Jn. 5:24-30).
John 5:25: “Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live,”
The Rapture ends the Dispensation of Grace for today’s dispensation; it is the believers’ resurrection. Believers’ bodies will be taken out of the grave, and those alive will be taken off the earth. All will be united to their glorified spirit. This truth is part of the mystery revelation given to the Apostle Paul (2 Thess. 2:5-7, Eph. 3:2-3). The Rapture resurrection is for all believers since the beginning of time (Rom. 4, 1 Thess. 4:13-18).
The Mystery Dispensation of Grace ends with the Rapture. Nonbelievers will be left behind. They will die during the transition or at the end of the tribulation during The Battle of Armageddon, which is the Irreversible Punitive Judgment for the unregenerate (Rev. 16:13-16). The Irreversible Punitive Judgment is the end for nonbelievers who lived during the ending of the Dispensation of Grace.
During the Rapture, we will meet Jesus Christ in the sky. The LORD will not set foot physically here on earth. There is a specific time when He will call all believers from all dispensations (present and previous ones). Believers will reunite with their bodies. This calling will be for all believers, dead and alive (1 Thess. 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:42-49).
After the Rapture, the transition begins. The seven-year Tribulation will occur, ending with the Lord Jesus Christ’s second physical return and residency on earth (Zech. 6:12-13, 8:1-3, 14:3-5). He will rule on the throne of David in the kingdom in Israel signaling the Dispensation of the Kingdom is in full control of the economy on earth for the next millennial years (Zech. 14).
All humanity in the Dispensation of Grace is individually responsible to God for faith, and propagation of the Gospel of the New Covenant (1 Tim. 2:19, Tit. 3:8, Eph. 2:8-10, Rom. 1:16, 10:9-13, 1 Cor. 1:2, 18, Jn. 17, 2 Cor. 5:18-22).
Equality between the Nation of Israel and other Nations makes this dispensation unique. This relationship is part of the mystery. It was not revealed in prophecy (Eph. 2:14-22) how the making of ‘one new’ entity the Body of Christ takes place.
Ephesians 2:15-18: "His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, resulting in peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross."
All of us are invited and need to approach God the same way through Christ Jesus. He established a local church according to Scriptures that relates to the dispensation’s rules (Rom. 12, 1 Cor. 12, Eph. 4, 1 Tim. 3, Tit. 1, Heb. 10:25).
All called out believers of the church today are the “called out” people of God. They represent Him as His Body in the world. His rules on a personal level involve believers living as the Lord would have them (Colossians 1:10, 2:6, 7).
Believers today have a very high calling. They are to represent Him in bodily form. Presently, believers are not subject under a king other than Jesus. The Body of Christ is not setting-up the Millennial Kingdom here on earth; instead, it is giving an eternal message of reconciliation to the world. Believers’ responsibility is to be the mouthpiece of Christ Jesus with the Gospel (Eph. 1:22-23, 5:8, Col. 1:18, 1 Cor. 12:27, 2 Cor. 5:18-21, Rom. 1:16, 10:9-13).
However, being representatives of His Body does not allow believers today to ignore the characteristics of the Kingdom of God. Saved and transformed believers are to live in holiness, justice, and righteousness. Being the mouthpiece of God includes upholding characteristics of God’s Kingdom.
When believers die today, they become part of God’s eternal Kingdom. We are to teach that the Kingdom is coming and be in agreement with a correct dispensational understanding. Ask God to open your eyes to the truths found in Scripture (Eph. 1:15-21).
Therefore, today's humanity is part of the hidden mystery instituted by God, which was not in prophecy in the Old Testament. Believers of the Old Testament who are in heaven are part of the secrets not fully revealed. They receive the blessings given to the Church called His Body (1 Thess. 4:13-18, Heb. 12:1-2). Believers are part of the future scope of God's plan. God gives believers an exceptional position and other gifts (Eph. 2). The Raptured saints along with Old Testament believers are part of the future scope of rewards from God, are assured at the rapture of being eternally changed (2 Cor. 5:9-10, Is. 26:19, Rev. 19:11-18, 1 Cor. 6:2-3).
When discussing the Dispensation of Grace, you will find a uniqueness, revealed in the Pauline epistles for believers today. Paul, who wrote the majority of the New Testament books, entirely published and tells of the fullness of the Dispensation of Grace for today as He was directed by God the Holy Spirit (Gal. 1:11-24, 2:1-10). He wrote at least thirteen books, and possibly 14 of the 26 books of the New Testament. They reveal for us today the uniqueness of the Dispensation of Grace (Rom. 11:25, 16:25, 1 Cor. 2:7, 15:51, Eph. 1:9, 3:1-14, 5:32, 6:19, Col. 1:26-27, 2:2, 4:3, 1 Tim. 3:9).
On pg. 248
After the Rapture of the Church occurs, the transition follows into the earthly Kingdom (The Dispensation of the Kingdom). All non-believers alive at the Rapture will remain to face the wrath of God. The tribulation ends today’s dispensation (The Dispensation of Grace). Non-believers are in the historical events written in the Book of Revelation (see chart on the book of Revelation, end of chapter 11). These non-believers will go through the Tribulation period ending with their destruction by death or at the Battle of Armageddon.
The literal reign of Christ on earth begins with His second coming and appearing. His reign continues through the Millennial Reign and ends with the Great White Throne Judgment, the final Irreversible Punitive Judgment, and the second death of the nonbelievers. (Rev. 16:13-16, 19:11-21).
Note: The literal second coming on earth is not part of the Rapture. The Rapture happens years before, ending the previous dispensation (the Dispensation of Grace for believers). This Transition going into the Kingdom Dispensation was prophesied and takes place between the Rapture and our Lord’s second coming to earth.
He will rule the whole earth from Jerusalem. Believers of the Dispensation of Grace will now be in their glorified bodies. Non-believers left behind, who heard and rejected the Gospel message are doomed to go into the tribulation and are not going to find salvation. They understood and rejected the Gospel, and their Punitive Irreversible Judgment will come upon them. They will die by the end of the tribulation.
This whole period is called the tribulation, which includes The Great Tribulation, and identifying names in prophecy that describes the end with Christ Jesus, such as "the day of the Lord,” “that day,” “in that day,” and “the latter days."
The "Day of the Lord" is a conclusion phrase ending with Christ Jesus' literal return. The other phrases refer to the whole or parts of the judgment period in the transition. Each time when reading the prophecy with these sentence phrases, you need to pay careful attention. Scriptural context with other passage references is important in determining if the prophecy predictions are the total time-period of the tribulation or the concluding event with Christ coming to earth (Is. 2:2, 11-12, 20, 3:7, 18, 4:1-2, 5:30, 27:1-13).
Reading prophecy carefully helps to warn the reader when a writer of prophecy is writing about future events of a dispensation. One can miss the understanding at times in its fullness. However, this should not prevent anyone from trying to understand future events.
One must be mindful of the prophet that could have bundled the event activities together, where to them; it looks like the same period of the activity events. Yet, in reality, there could be more than one period since the events could be written about what he sees as the same event.
Why did the prophet write the scriptural prophesy as one event? Because he saw all the activity events bundled together because he was looking down through the ages of history. As he looked at the revelation, he would see the next event’s activity. He would not see the period between the events of God’s full plan, and thus did not write about the gaps he could not see.
Not being able to distinguish between the timing of the event activities, does make absolutes hard to discern at times. Therefore, studying the Word of God is essential, along with using all the disciplines of studying Scripture, including Systematic Theology with Dispensational Theology.
With that said, carefully study the Scriptures. Follow the dispensations with some of the modified laws and new laws, and seek to be an accurate witness of symmetry of God’s entire plan. When you do this, it will help you clarify future events and the timing of each.
The full operation of the Kingdom Dispensation begins at our Lord’s second coming. He will come to earth after the Rapture and tribulation. The Kingdom Dispensation will be in transition with the transition ending when He establishes His Kingdom in its fullness at His literal return.
However, this is important to remember! The Dispensation of the Kingdom started with the tribulation period transitioning. Nonbelievers, will come to their demise, they experience the punitive judgment. This tribulation/transition period with The Great Tribulation ends with The Irreversible Punitive Judgment on nonbelievers. Also called God’s Wrath Judgment in the prophecy of Romans 2:5. The tribulation will be a refining period for both Jews and Gentiles. God will separate the “sheep from the goats” or “the tares from the wheat” during this tribulation judgment period (Matt. 25:32, 13:30).
Satan’s confinement at The Battle of Armageddon to the Abyss or Bottomless Pit for 1,000 years will signify the ending of the transition and tribulation period (Rev. 20:1-3). The Battle of Armageddon is the last event of the transition activity going into the millennium.
At this point Jesus Christ receives His Kingdom. He sits on the throne of David and rules over the Nation of Israel and the world (Matt. 25:31-32). The Lord Jesus will be exalted alone on that day for He is the KING of kings and the LORD of Lords (Is. 2:17, 1 Tim. 6:15, Rev. 1:8, 17:14, 19:16, 22:7, 12-13, 16).
Those martyred in the tribulation period will be resurrected at this time and will participate with Christ Jesus in His Messianic Rule for 1,000 years (Rev. 20:4-6).
All saints from previous dispensations will come along with Christ Jesus, and participate in the Dispensation of the Kingdom (Rev. 17:14, 19:11-16, 1 Cor. 6:2-3).
Finally, in the earthly Kingdom, the Nation of Israel will receive its prophesied promises. They will be back into a proper relationship with God and fully restored to leadership in the Kingdom's dispensation. The world will be blessed and ruled through this Kingdom with Christ's reign (Rom. 9:27-28, Is. 1:26, 2:2-5, 9:1-7, Is. 11, Is. 12, 60:1-18).
Under Christ’s authority in the Dispensation of the Kingdom, the Nation of Israel, those Jews who lived through the tribulation ordeal in their natural physical body, will rule with Him in Jerusalem. The rest of the world believers who are in their natural body will repopulate the world’s nations.
Being in their natural physical bodies at the end of the tribulation period, they will go into the millennial reign after The Battle of Armageddon. All saints who already died in previous dispensations and Raptured earlier, and those who died in martyrdom in the Tribulation, will be in the Kingdom in their glorified bodies, set to rule and judge over nations of men and Angels. This is the fulfillments of promises made to the Body of Christ and martyred saints by pledges and covenants (Eph. 2, 1 Cor. 6:2-3, Heb. 9:14-15, Rev. 20:4-8).
It is the responsibility of saints from the former dispensations to collect the world’s products under the Lord’s rule. Glorified believers will scatter throughout the nations on earth and the universe at the Messiah’s orders (1 Cor. 6:2-3). Their responsibilities will probably include judging, and delivering the wealth, goods, and domestic products equal distributions, and giving respect to Israel and worship to Christ and His rule (Is. 27:12-13, 49:22, 60:5, 11:1-16).
As stated before, the Body of Christ will be under the rule of Christ and will be in their glorified bodies. These glorified believers include all Old Testament believers ever since Adam, and the believers killed in the seven-year tribulation (Rev. 20:4-5).
Christ's government of the world will be headquartered in Israel, and will specifically be in Jerusalem in the Middle East (Is. 2:2, Zech. 14:4, Rev. 21:10-11). Established nations will go to Jerusalem to learn how to walk in the ways of the eternal God through Christ's rulership, and all the countries of the world will want to go there to give respect to the government of God (Is. 2:3). The nations of the world will receive judgment and will be rebuked whenever needed, and the countries will no longer learn war or move against one another in battle (Is. 2:4, 65:20, Micah 4:1-8). (Note: The sin nature is not abolished yet at this time, and humans cannot say Satan made me sin for he is in lockup).
The events that will occur are as follows:
The seven-year tribulation judgment in which God’s wrath will be “poured out” on the earth and humanity. All non-believers will be destroyed in the Punitive Judgment before moving into the earthly Kingdom (Rev. 19:11-21, 20:1-3).
Satan will be confined to the Abyss or Bottomless Pit for 1,000 years (Rev. 19:11-21).
The Nation of Israel will be back in its proper relationship. God will restore their leadership in the Dispensation of the Kingdom.
Jesus Christ will receive His Kingdom. He will sit on the throne of David to rule over the Nation of Israel and the world.
The Nation of Israel will receive its promised earthly Kingdom. These earthly promises are the fulfilled promises of the Old Testament. Believers of previous dispensations will be in their glorified bodies living in the 1,000 years and will participate in the pledges as promised. Those who are in their natural body are waiting to receive their glorified body at the end of the Millennium.
This world is under Christ’s authority when He sits on the throne of David here on earth. The Nation Israel, as stated earlier, with the glorified Body of Christ’s believers are set up as rulers and judges over the nations of men and Angels, fulfilling the promises made to the Body of Christ with Israel (Eph. 2, 1 Cor. 6:2-3).
The Body of the redeemed will probably steward and be scattered throughout the nations as they rule. The Redeemed (glorified saints) are responsible for the delivering of domestic products to the Nation of Israel under Christ rulership. The Old Testament believers since Adam and believers killed in the seven-year tribulation are included in the reign of Christ in their glorified bodies as they too rule and reign (Rev. 20:4-5). Also, there are believers who endured through the tribulation in their natural physical body, and through the battle of Armageddon who enter the Millennial Kingdom. They will populate and reproduce children during the time of the Millennial Kingdom (the Dispensation of the Kingdom).
The Mountain of the Lord will be His Temple (Is. 2:2-5). Many people will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.”
Isaiah 60:1-18: “The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.”
Isaiah 11: "The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD - and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness, he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.”
“He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper’s nest.”
“They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious.”
“In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the sea.” “He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth. Ephraim’s jealousy will vanish, and Judah’s enemies will be cut off; Ephraim will not be jealous of Judah, nor Judah hostile toward Ephraim. They will swoop down on the slopes of Philistia to the west; together they will plunder the people to the east. They will lay hands on Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites will be subject to them. The LORD will dry up the gulf of the Egyptian sea; with a scorching wind, he will sweep his hand over the Euphrates River. He will break it up into seven streams so that men can cross over in sandals. There highway for the remnant of his people that is left from Assyria, as there was for Israel when they came up from Egypt."
See also: Romans 9:27-28.
Israel will be restored to full leadership (Is. 1:26, 2:2-5, 9:1-7, 60:1-18). The world will be blessed and ruled through Christ’s reign.
Longevity of life will be restored at this time. Those born in the Dispensation of the Kingdom, which rejects Christ and His authority, will be judged at the age of 100 (Is. 65:19-21). There will be no death in the next Dispensation of the Fullness of Time. Therefore, this prophecy is referring to the Dispensation of the earthly Kingdom.
The makeup of this dispensation is prophesied in Isaiah 2:1-5, which details the following:
The longevity of life will be restored. Some born in the Dispensation of the Kingdom that rejects Christ and his authority will be judged at the age of 100. Believers could live in their natural body for the full 1,000 years (Is. 65:19-21).
In Isaiah 11, animals of the earth will be at peace with each other. Their diet will go back to the one of the Garden of Eden. This passage complements Isaiah 2:1-5 with further details.
On pg. 256
New and Modified Truths in the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time
When the Transition into the new dispensation, the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time, takes control, the old millennial dispensation will come to an end.
At the beginning of the transition, it is going to go into the Eternal Kingdom. God will release Satan, from his prison. Satan will gather all those who were born that rejected Christ Jesus and His authority, uniting them for the Battle of Gog and Magog. This battle ends with fire coming from God that defeats Satan and his army. Satan is finally, for all eternity cast into the Lake of Fire. This battle is at the end of the millennial reign. It starts the transition into the eternal Kingdom of God. The Battle of Gog and Magog is the last battle and it brings an end to rebellion and to Satan.
Revelation 20:7-10: ”Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city; and fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
The end of the last Irreversible Punitive Judgment will be marked with Satan being cast into the Lake of Fire. All the nonbelievers follow Satan’s doom since the beginning of the world. The Lord will judge them at the Great White Throne, and He will throw them into the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:11-15). The Great White Throne Judgment is the last punitive judgment on humanity (Ps. 1). Nonbelievers from the beginning of creation will be cast into the Lake of Fire forever.
Hell, the inside core of the earth (Eph. 4:9-10, 1 Pet. 3:18-20, Rev. 21:1) will be thrown into the Lake of Fire. The eternal judgment that never ends is where Satan and his angels will be at this time. The Lake of Fire was created for Satan and his representatives. It is extremely sad that any human will be there because they rejected the free Gospel message (Rev. 20:10-15, Mk. 9:48, Is. 66:24, Lk. 16:24-25, Jude 1:5-7, 14-16, Matt. 24:51, 25:30, 41, 46).
Hell will give up all the dead who are in it which are those who rejected God’s plan. Their final just judgment is at the event of the Great White Throne by Christ Jesus. All will be found guilty, and their names will not be found to be written in the Book of Life. They will be judged and found guilty of their sins from the Word of God, the Book of Life, and other books that are not named (Rev. 21:27, Jn. 5:39, 12:48).
Will The Great White Throne judgment be your destiny? Hell will give up the dead of those who are in it. These are all who rejected God’s provision. They will not be in the Book of Life, their names will not be found there. They will be verified guilty of sin from the Word of God and the Book of Life, and other nameless books not mentioned (Rev. 21:27, Jn. 5:39, 12:48).
On pg. 257
God will rule forever, His Kingdom will never end (Ex. 15:18). The “New” earth and heaven will be perfectly established in the last Dispensation (Eph. 1:10, Rev. 21:1-4, 22-27, Rev. 22). It will be a perfect environment, just like the Garden of Eden.
A new heaven and a new earth are coming. The previous ones will pass away. In the new heaven and new earth, there will be no sea. There are no stars, sun, or moon because Christ Jesus is its light. A new world, the New Jerusalem, will be there, along with the Tree of Life (Rev. 22:2, 14, Is. 65:17-28, 66:22-24).
There will be no more death, sorrow, sin, or failure. Only the redeemed believers will be there. The animal kingdom and nature will experience deliverance from decay and destruction (Rev. 21:1-4, Rom. 8:18-23).
Finally, the end of the Dispensation of the earthly Kingdom is where God creates the New Heaven and New Earth and takes full control. The wedding feast of the Lamb will be celebrated. The beginning of an eternal dispensation is the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time. Heaven and earth will come together for all eternity.
All the saints from the former Dispensations will be at the wedding feast of the Lamb. The Dispensation of the Fullness of Time that takes full control is also called the Kingdom of God. This Dispensation or Kingdom never ends. Christ will be on the earth and will institute many new rules, some will be carried over from the former dispensations operations since they are eternal rules, and others will come into their infinite fullness of operation, taking full and perfect effect (Rom. 8).
The Eternal Dispensation’s Kingdom, conditions, and environment are all perfect and they will never fail (Eph. 1:10, 1 Pet. 1:4, Rev. 21:1-4, 22-27, Rev. 22).
In the Eternal Kingdom, nonbelievers will not be present. There will be no evil being, there is no unrighteousness, or anything unclean in the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time (also called the Eternal Kingdom of God or heaven, Rev. 21:8, 27).
The Supreme Lord Jesus Christ will deliver everything to the eternal Father. God's plan will be completed. The Lord Jesus Christ will be submissive and His authorized responsibility will be completed. Christ Jesus, the Son, will place himself under God the Father.
This order is in keeping with the chain of command revealed in Scripture. The one Godhead shows the order of leadership and authority in His dispensational schematic over man's history.
God (Elohim) is one, and in this one God, there is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each is transcendent in their unique responsibilities. The Godhead determined all things in His eternal counsel within Himself (Gen. 1:1, Ps. 8:6, 1 Cor. 15:27-28).
On pg. 259
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On pg. 261
Chapter 8
Chapters Forward / Goals - Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12.
The fourth fundamental Key of Operation is The Ordained Stewardship Institution of a Major Dispensation (1 Cor. 4:1-3).
All Seven Operating Keys for the system’s functioning are common to all Major Dispensations. Without all Seven Operating Keys in existence, a dispensation will not change. Breaking down each Key operation within the system will help you understand the Dispensations as you see the symmetry of God's plan of redemption, along with His schematic to save the world (2 Tim. 2:15, 2:2). All of this will help you learn why dispensations change.
Identifying the Ordained Institutions of Stewardship will help clarify Dispensations. These stewards carry out the dispensation operation. Identifying each Stewardship Institution will help distinguish changes relating to each Dispensation. Along with the changing of a dispensation, you will learn that there is a change in the Stewardship Institution as well.
Whenever the stewards fail in their Stewardship responsibilities and people become corrupt there will be a lack of witness. Those saved, become like the lost, and like the lost they become ever worse and increase in evil. This truth pertains to each failure throughout the six Major Dispensations. Remember, if a dispensation does not fail, then it goes on forever and becomes an Eternal Dispensation.
Every failure of the Stewardship Institution starts the last three Keys of operation that brings an ending to the Dispensation. God’s long-suffering and patience finally end. He foreknew before He created humanity that they would fail. He planned redemption through the LORD Jesus Christ in eternity past. Ultimately, a dispensational failure leads to the Irreversible Punitive Judgment that comes from God.
Corrupt stewardship causes significant aspects of a dispensation to fail. Corruption also causes the permeation of sin within human existence (Rom. 1).
When God’s long-suffering ends, as planned, the dispensation ends, and a period of transition starts where the new dispensation begins. Each transition includes the punitive judgment, which ends the old failed dispensation. The new dispensation then takes full control when the Irreversible Punitive Judgment is complete (1 Cor. 4:2, Ez. 33:7-16, Matt. 21:33-44, Acts 7:42-60, 28:28-29, 1 Tim. 4:1-2, 2 Tim. 3:1-7, Rev. 16:16, 20:8).
Stewardship is one of the Seven Guiding Operations of a Dispensation in God’s Eternal Design (It is number four of the seven).
The term “stewardship” is inherent in the Greek word for Dispensation. The Stewardship Institutions are comprised of stewards who are to be faithful in their responsibilities to carry out, and manage the ordained continuous eternal operation of God's Dispensational plans (Rom. 13:1).
Stewardship Institutions were designed by the Sovereign God. He designed, developed, created, and confirmed their parameters and responsibilities (Dan. 5:21, Rom. 13). Each of the seven dispensations’ Stewardships is an ordained institution. There is one for each Dispensation, and each of them have the responsibility in bringing redemption’s message of Scripture to the world. They were all planned by God in order to bring salvation in Jesus Christ, for "whosoever will" come to Him (Jn. 17).
However, there are some similarities, differences, and commonalities within a stewardship. These terms for stewardship have been defined throughout history.
Every Ordained Stewardship Institution is uniquely designed and predetermined by our Sovereign God (1 Pet. 4:1-11, 1 Cor. 4:1-3). To follow are examples why.
1. The Dispensation of Innocence the Angels and humanity comprised the Ordained Stewardship Institution (Gen. 1:26-28, 2:25). Lucifer, the guardian cherubim, and Adam, and Eve, are named in Scriptures as stewards of the Dispensation of Innocence (Ez. 28:12-15, Is. 14:12-15, Gen. 2 to 3).
The curse of the serpent who Satan indwelt or influenced happened in the Garden before his fall. Satan’s fall occurred at that moment, it was not sometime before creation (Gen. 3:14-15). Satan was created when God created the heavens and earth. There is no gap between the two together being created in the first day. Both passages Ezekiel 28:12-15 and Isaiah 14:12-15 shows Satan’s present, before sin and after creation in the Garden of Eden. Sin and death became a reality after the fall for the stewards, humanity, and creation (Rom. 8:18-23).
If the stewards (Satan, Adam, and Eve) had not failed, this dispensation would not have ended, and eternity and life would have continued (Gen. 2:9, 3, 15 to 18, Rom. 5, Job 31:33, 1 Cor. 15:22, 1 Tim. 2:14). Humanity on an individual relationship had holy access to God directly. They could walk, and have daily fellowship with Him.
The Tree of Life was in the Garden for their taking. Instead, they had refused and ate of the forbidden tree, called “The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil,” which they ate. They sinned by disobedience. They also were lacking trust in God. They defied Him and chose to become gods unto themselves, rather than trusting in faith and obeying the only true God. They did not adhere to the fact that God is the creator and eternal sustainer of all things (Ps. 3:5, 55:22, Heb. 1:3).
Today whenever a human rejects the God of creation, they do so to become their own god. This attitude condemns them in their sinful nature and warrants eternal damnation. Rejecting the LORD Jesus Christ today is similar to Adam and Eve not eating of the Tree of Life but the forbidden tree.
Rejecting Him is just like what our first parents did when they ate the forbidden fruit. When choosing any other way besides Jesus Christ for eternal life and forgiveness, it is similar to eating from the forbidden tree. Instead of receiving the gift God gave in Jesus Christ they choose eternal judgment and damnation (Jn. 3:19, 1 Jn. 5:9-14, Rom. 5:16, 10:9-13, Jude 1-4).
2. The Dispensation of Conscience (Gen. 3:1-13, Rom. 2:12, 15, 5:12). The Institutional Stewardship for this dispensation were the family Heads. God was dealing with all humanity through them. They functioned as the stewards and priests offering animal and other sacrifices for the family. These foremost family leaders and heads give credence to the truth found in Genesis 4 to 6. That is where God shows that only males and their genealogies are family leaders. God governed this dispensation directly. He communicated and held each individual family head responsible.
There is no priest, king, or prophet institution mentioned in this dispensation. None apart from the male being the head of the family. He was to lead by carrying out functions as the ruler of the family. God dealt directly with the males of the families, as they were to take up responsibility in the leadership role as rulers. They also had to commit to priestly functions (Gen. 4:1-10, 20-24) and to carry out the functions of a prophet for their own individual families (Jude 1:14).
In fact, we can date the book of Job as occurring in the Dispensation of Conscience, because in the book, it mentions how he offered a sacrifice for his family (Job 1:4-5). Job did not provide or offer the priestly sacrifice for others outside his direct family. We do not see a priest outside the family head relationship until the next dispensation (Job 42:7-9). Also, God told Job to pray for his friends and his friends were to make the sacrifices. These events show family heads carrying out their own responsibilities for their families not others.
Job was not called a king or priest by title in the Bible but performed priestly responsibilities. Job might have authored the book, or Elihu (one of Job’s friends) could have during this dispensation. The account could also have been passed down verbally, and Moses or Solomon could have written it during the Dispensation of Promise.
Therefore, no matter which dispensation the book of Job belongs to, God inspired it for humanity to show us universal principles. This account indicates that remaining faithful when things go poorly at times reveals strength in faith. Whether the conflicts come through spiritual principalities, physical difficulties, family members, or friends, faithfulness in trials glorifies God, and results in His confidence in the believer (Job 1:12-22, 2:1-10, 42:7, Jas. 5, Phil. 1:6).
James 5:11: “Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.”
As recorded in Scripture, God spoke directly to Job in chapters 38-41 (Job 42:7-9). This all indicates that it took place during the Dispensation of Conscience. It is when God dealt directly in a Theocracy, ruling directly with individuals. Another example of this is the account of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4:6, where God speaks directly to them.
Besides the family heads, angels had a stewardship role as well. The angels were culpable or guilty with the evil behavior of the temptation and lie of Satan (Gen. 3). Satan, an angel, did evil and a third of the angels followed him (Rev. 12:4, fallen angels are called demons in the Bible, Eph. 6:12, 2 Pt. 2:4, Mk. 5:9-13). The fallen angel’s behavior contributed leading to the worldwide flood.
The immoral behavior between angels and women is recorded before the worldwide flood (Gen. 6:1-6). Fallen angels in conjunction with women’s reproduction, permeated society, adding to the evil (Gen. 6:1-6, Jude 6, 2 Pet. 2:4-5, 1 Pet. 3:18-20).
Angels have the responsibility to be stewards and minister to the children of God (Matt. 18:10-11). In Hebrews 1:14, speaks that angels have a stewardship role in dispensations that is appointed by God.
3. The Dispensation of Human Government (Genesis 9:4-7): The Stewards in this dispensation were prophets, priests, and kings. They had governmental authority, which began when God spelled out the governing rules for humanity in Noah’s day (Genesis 9:1-7). These dispensational rules were given just before He gave the covenant of the rainbow. Humans were now responsible in this dispensation for judging offenders and pronouncing judgment (Gen. 9:5-6).
The Dispensation of Human Government included kings before Abraham. This is seen with the King of Salem's appearance who was a king and a priest (Gen. 14:18-21). Ruling kings are mentioned many times from chapter 10 through the end of the book of Genesis.
The priest offered animal sacrifices and received tithes as part of their duties. This priesthood was before the Levitical priesthood in the Dispensation of Promise. During the transition, Abraham's father-in-law was a priest of the old system, in the Dispensation of Human Government (Ex. 2:14-17, 3:1, 18:1).
Jethro was a good priest and is mentioned as the father-in-law of Moses. He gave counsel to him as a priest. Jethro, the priest of Midian, wisely counseled Moses and in turn Moses heeded his advice (Ex. 3:1, 4:18, 18:17-23). These offices (prophets, priest, and kings) took place before establishing them in the Dispensation of Promise. They were operating during the Dispensation of Human Government. Scripture reveals, also, in the transition from the old to the new dispensation, the disobedient prophet Balaam (Num. 22:1-14, 2 Pet. 2:15, Jude 1:1).
God the Son, the Lord Jesus, came through a descendant of Noah. This Dispensation administered the Redemptive Covenant as it preserved and brought forward the Lord’s incarnation.
God, despite humanity's sinfulness, provided a gift and continues to provide the means of forgiveness for you and me through faith. He gave of Himself to justify all who receive the payment He offered (Lk. 3:36-38, Gal. 4:4, Jn. 3:16, Rom. 5:7-8).
4. The Dispensation of Promise: The Nation of Israel is God’s “chosen people” and they were the stewards for this dispensation. They were to proclaim that the creator is the one and only God and that through them, the Promised seed would come (Lk. 3:21-38).
The Institutional Stewardship for the world was the Nation of Israel. They were the physical descendants of Abraham. Through Sarah, Abraham's descendants came and were the ordained stewards who would bless the rest of the world. The world was to receive God's blessing through this ordained instrument (Gen. 17, 18:18). Our Lord Jesus, through the history of this stewardship, would come to Earth and humanity would receive the promised seed (Gen. 3:15-16, Gal. 4:4, Rom. 5:1-11).
Note: The disciple Luke was a Jewish Doctor (possibly a proselyte gentile). Mark was a Jewish disciple. Neither of them were one of the twelve Apostles. Five of the twelve Apostles who were Jewish men recorded the Lord Jesus Christ's account on His earthly ministry (Matthew, John, James, Peter, and Jude). All 12 apostles lived during the Dispensation of Promise and wrote their accounts of our Lord's ministry, death, and resurrection. All the Old Testament writers were Jewish men and lived in the Dispensation of Promise (2 Pet. 1:21, 3:2).
Paul, the thirteenth Apostle, wrote and was the steward given and the one who recorded the full dispensational operation of the Dispensation of Grace. He was a Jew too (Gal. 2:7-8). God saved him and gave him a responsibility to preach at the beginning formation of the Dispensation of Grace (Acts 9-13, Eph. 2).
Furthermore, stewards were to be example of godliness. They were to reveal the one true God. Their stewardship would ultimately reveal many truths. God wanted humanity to know and obey Him and Israel’s greatness and their examples of living were to be a pattern for all believers to follow. They were to set the model of faith and trust in the one and only God.
Through this Stewardship Institution, God would record the previous Dispensations’ history that brought His incarnation into the eternal dispensation (Deut. 10:17, Ps. 136:3, 1 Tim. 6:13-16, Rev. 1:11, 17, 2:18-19, 17:14, 22:12-13, 16).
Many accounts spoken in the Biblical history of individuals reveal a positive and a negative pattern. When turning to the God of creation, one finds God providing a positive outcome for humanity. However, the individuals in the Bible are just like us. They experience the same temptations and sins. The Bible tells the truth about us through their struggles with temptations, failures, immorality, and other life and death matters.
Yet, God seeks and delivers all who put their trust in Him by faith. Those who by faith yield to Him and His provisions find true peace (Ps. 72:7, 85:8, Gal. 5:22, 6:16).
Psalm 29:11: “The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace.”
John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
In the Dispensation of Promise, there were prophets, priests, and kings. They were the leading stewards for the Nation of Israel, and their living was to be holy, righteous, and just. The Law of Moses was given as a command and was a guideline of thankfulness, honor, and obedience in honoring Jehovah, the Great “I AM.”
Animal atonement sacrifices were ordained by God, and practiced by faith. Coupled with the imputation of God's righteousness (grace), that provided salvation (Rom. 4, Heb. 11). These animal sacrifices and one's faith were a continual practice for atonement to cover sin. Animal sacrifices continued until Christ Jesus finished his work, and until the Holy Spirit indwelled believers on the day of Pentecost.
The Day of Pentecost after the LORD's ascension was the Jewish holiday, which put into effect the beginning of the New Covenant with the Holy Spirit's descending (John 15:26-25, 16:1-15, Acts 1, 2, Rom. 4:1-8, Eph. 1:7, 2). The first dispensing of the truth of the finished works of Jesus Christ, which is of his redemption (the New Covenant), came through the Nation of Israel's stewardship at Pentecost in the Dispensation of Promise (Acts 2, Matt. 28:16-20).
This fulfilled by Christ Jesus brought into being the completion of the New Covenant by God. The New Covenant came into operation in the Dispensation of Promise during the life of Jesus Christ. Remember, a "dispensation" is where the operational truth of a covenant comes to completion. Remember, a bond covenant is not a dispensation, nor is a dispensation a covenant.
However, because of their failure, the Jewish nation experienced continuous disciplinary judgment, until finally they were set-aside and overlaid with a hidden dispensation. This setting aside was the Irreversible Punitive Judgment on the Dispensation of Promise.
God would now finish his plan with the Nation of Israel after the Rapture. The unique insertion of a Mystery Dispensation happened so that the world could be reached with the Gospel. The overlay is in conjunction with His judgment on the chosen Nation of Israel and their unique stewardship to the world (Rom. 11).
Romans chapters nine and eleven document God’s plan for human salvation through the Mystery Dispensation. He plans to finish the offer of salvation. After today’s Dispensation, He will then finish his promised plan for Israel to be the stewardship Nation of his Kingship, completing it through the tribulation and the earthly Kingdom Dispensation (Jer. 30:24, 32:42, Ez. 36:22-37, Rev. 7, 20-22).
Paul, the 13th Apostle, a Jew, was the Apostle saved going into the transition from one dispensation to the next. His commission was to be the Apostle of the Dispensation of Grace. He was chosen and called by God to be the Apostle of the full revelation of the Mystery Dispensation of today (Acts 9:15-18, 22:14, 1 Cor. 1:1, 15:1-11, Col. 1:21-29, Eph. 3:1-9, Gal. 1:11-12).
Following the rapture of believers, God will pick up where He left off with Israel as a nation. He will perform the purging in the tribulation, ending with the completion of Irreversible Punitive Judgment on those left behind after the Rapture. He will then fulfill the promises to the remnant and will complete it after the prophesied purging tribulation.
The Nation of Israel will find God fulfilling his promises to them through the Dispensation of the Kingdom, culminating in the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time, which will be eternal (Is. 60:21, Jer. 30:24, Jer. 31).
5. The Dispensation of Grace: This is an organism of equality (Eph. 2:14-18, 3:1-7). The stewards of this dispensation are all believers and they each share an equal responsibility (Gal. 3:28). In this dispensation, the Stewardship Institution had passed from the Nation of Israel to this new organism of equality that included every nation (Acts 7 to 9, 13:45-47, 26:1-32, 28:27-31). This organism is called the Body of Christ, where all believers have the responsibility to uphold the ministry of reconciliation as stewards (2 Cor. 5:17-21).
Privileges and duties of stewardship apply to the saved today. We are to walk as children of the light and give testimony of the truth of God and His Word (Lk. 16:10, 1 Cor. 4:2, 2 Cor. 5:17-21, Eph. 5:8, 1 Thess. 5:5, Rom. 6).
Romans 6:1-2: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”
Romans 6:19b: “so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.”
This particular dispensation was fully revealed through the writing of the Apostle Paul. He wrote the majority of the New Testament books from Romans through Titus (Gal. 1:11-12, Eph. 3:1-7). Perhaps Paul wrote the book of Hebrews, making the total fourteen for the New Testament. He received his commission by God to be the Apostle to the Gentiles.
Paul’s commission was for humanity according to the revelation of the new Dispensation (Eph. 2). He received his commission from God alone; and not from someone else’s teachings.
Jesus Christ directly taught Paul. He communicated the revelation in conjunction with his knowledge of the Old Testament writings to fulfill his commission (2 Tim. 4:6-8). God used his life for you and all others to know God’s plan and to help us exercise our stewardship (Acts 9, Gal. 1:11-12, 1 Cor. 12, Rom. 12, Eph. 4).
Galatians 1:1-2: “But I (Paul) make known to you, brethren that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was, I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
6. The Dispensation of the Kingdom: In this dispensation, Christ will be here on earth with all believers who were saved from all Dispensations. They will all participate in the worldwide rule of his kingdom (Rev. 17:14, 19:11-21, 20:1-4). The Nation of Israel will once again be the primary Stewardship Institution, and all nations will be subordinate to it (Matt. 19:26-30, Lk. 1:27-33, 22:25-30, Acts 1:3, Rom. 11:25-27).
Isaiah 14:1-3: “For the Lord, (Yahweh) will have mercy on Jacob, and will still choose Israel, and settle them in their own land. The strangers will be joined with them, and they will cling to the house of Jacob. Then people will take them and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel will possess them for servants and maids in the land of the Lord; they will take them captive whose captives they were, and rule over their oppressors. It shall come to pass in the day the Lord gives you rest from your sorrow and from your fear and the hard bondage in which you were made to serve”
Beginning in infancy, the Dispensation of the Kingdom of the prophesied transition period called the tribulation period is the refining time of Israel, and at the same time when the world will be judged. Our Lord spoke about the refining period in His first coming in the Gospels.
Beginning in infancy, the Dispensation of the Kingdom of the prophesied transition period called the tribulation period is the refining time of Israel, and at the same time when the world will be judged. Our Lord spoke about the refining period in His first coming in the Gospels. Gentile oppression on Israel will end by or at the Battle of Armageddon (Lk. 21:20-32, Is. 24). Then the full operation of the Dispensation of the Kingdom will take full control under Jesus Christ’s earthly rule.
Stewards in the tribulation are made up of the Jewish believers from this period who are the remnant prophesied in the Old Testament (Zeph. 3:13-20). During the tribulation, many gentiles who never heard the gospel will believe it and will experience transformation through the Jewish leadership (stewards). These gentiles will receive Jesus Christ as Lord. Those who accept Christ will come out from all nations during this period (Rev. 7:9-17).
Some of these believers will experience suffering and death. Some will be martyred in the transition for their faith in the Lord because they will refuse the mark of the beast. Others will endure to the second coming of Jesus Christ and go into the Millennial Reign.
They will remain in their natural physical bodies as they go into the Millennial Dispensation, the Dispensation of the Kingdom, and rule with Christ as His stewards. They will also reproduce children (Matt. 10:22, Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26-29, 20:4).
The word “church” means a group of assembled people. The assemblies of Revelation do not necessarily refer to one local church; neither are they His Body the church of the Dispensation of Grace. These church’s geographic locations are in Asia; they are a mix of believers and unbelievers (Rev. 1-3).
These seven churches of the book of Revelation exist, and can refer to the church of the transition period, the prophesied tribulation, since John is writing of this period. They will be believers, which are “called out” under the stewardship of a prophet-preacher. God will speak directly by special angelic messengers to these preachers. They will be exhorting people’s behavior in many ways.
The Dispensation of the Kingdom begins at the prophesied transition period, called the tribulation period. This is the refining time of Israel and the time when judgment will come on the evil world. The book of Revelation describes the conditions that Christians will experience during this time.
Theologians differ as to who the churches of Revelation are. Some believe it is the Church of today called the Body of Christ; others believe they are churches of the tribulation period.
Some try to equate these churches in Revelation with the Church of today. They use chapter four in their defense, where John starts speaking as being in Heaven. Therefore, it assumes or presupposes that the Rapture happened between chapters three and four. They base their belief on two main things, the word church, and the physical locations between chapters-three and four of Revelation.
The fourth chapter in the book of Revelation is not the only or first book of events. The first chapter takes place first, explaining what follows through the whole tribulation and the transitions (Rev. 1:1-20). The entire book of Revelation proclaims the historical truths through the tribulation, the millennium, and into the eternal period. The whole text in the book of Revelation takes place after the Rapture.
Some theologians believe the entire book of Revelation is the transition describing the time after the Rapture and going into the Dispensation of the Kingdom. The description of events is of the stewardship, believers, and behavior during this time. Therefore, the book of Revelation describes what humanity will go through in the tribulation.
However, humanity's behavior of sin and the faithlessness of believers in the seven churches are applicable in both previous positions. Because every dispensation fails, this is relevant today.
It may not be “to” the Church today, but it is “for” us as it relates to the behavior of the sinner's heart. Stewards' exhortation to preach righteousness and faithfulness is relevant for hearers to repent from the failures, no matter what time-period they are living in.
Within the first part of Revelation (chapters 1-4), the language exhorts and points to an individual’s behavior. These groups are committing sins. They are failing during the purging transition, the tribulation period. The above passage exhorts the believer not to participate in wickedness but rather to be faithful and to endure to the end. It is a life and death matter. Those who do survive will go into the Dispensation of the Kingdom in their natural body.
In the second and third chapters, faithful stewards will receive a special reward in the Kingdom for their obedience in overcoming particular sins. There will be a reward for being a faithful steward. The one who overcame death, and endured will enter into the Kingdom. These will be those also who rejected the Mark of the Beast (Rev. 2:7, 2:10, 2:17, 2:26-28, 3:5, 3:12, 3:21).
The stewards will receive a special reward for faithfulness. They will be stewards and have a leadership positions in the following ways:
Even though Paul the Apostle does not mention all these rewards directly, it does not mean that believers in today’s Dispensation will not qualify for rewards. No matter what position one takes, believers are to be faithful stewards!
1 Corinthians 4:2: “Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”
In Revelation 2:26 the end could mean the Rapture or it could mean to the end of the tribulation, the transition going into the earthly Kingdom of Christ at His second coming.
Chapters two through four usages of the words or phrases such as “endure,” “persevered,” “faithful until death,” and “Jews.” Hearers are to expose those “who call themselves Jews but are not.” These seven churches have a Jewish essence (Rev. 2:2-3, 9, 14, 20-23; 3:1, 9). The tribulation is the prophesied transition. Covering from the former dispensation to the Dispensation of the Kingdom, both reveals an exhortation to enduring to death (2 Tim. 2:11-13).
The above are essential to take into account what chapter one of Revelation reveals.
Chapters 1 through 22 of Revelation are a total prophecy of the tribulation period's events and of the end times. See the enclosed chart on the entire book of Revelation and the order of events for more information.
This view contains overcoming persecution and rewards for faithfulness as the Scripture reveals, but relating to the proper dispensation accordingly is important.
The overcoming in the Tribulation ends with faithfulness as one has lived and being able to live through the Tribulation period, and entering the Dispensation of the Kingdom in their natural, physical body (Rev. 2:7, 10-11, 16-17, 24-28, 3:3-5, 10-12, 19-21).
Those who die in the Tribulation period, who are faithfully refusing the Mark of the Beast will be resurrected in glorified bodies at the first resurrection (do not confuse this resurrection with the mystery resurrection of the Rapture). This is at the full operation of the Dispensation of the Kingdom (Rev. 20:4-6). All believers will not die in the Tribulation period, but will go on to rule, reign, and receive their rewards. Also, those who enter the Kingdom dispensation alive, will be capable of reproduction of children during this 1,000 year period (Jer. 31:8-9, Is. 65:19-20).
The transition into this Dispensation starts right after the Rapture, and then goes through the seven-year tribulation period until it ends in the victorious reign of Christ. Victory in the battle called Armageddon leads to the full operation of the Dispensation of the Kingdom (Rev. 16:16).
The Mystery Rapture coming in the clouds is not prophesied. The exact time of the beginning of the seven-year tribulation is not given. There could be a gap between the Rapture and the seven years of the tribulation. However, the Scriptures make it very clear that the tribulation period is after the Rapture along with the judgment of the nonbelievers from the Dispensation of Grace, who will go into the tribulation judgment (1 Cor. 2:7, 15:51, 1 Thess. 4:13-18, 5:4-11, 2 Thess. 2:1-17, Rom. 11:15, 16:25, Eph. 5:32).
Along with the tribulation saints, the saints from all the other dispensations, both Old and New Testaments believers, will come back with Christ in their glorified bodies and will rule with Christ as His stewards to the world (1 Thess. 4:14-18, 1 Cor. 6:2-3, 2 Tim. 2:11-13).
The Stewardship fulfillment to the Nation of Israel finds its completion with the Lord Jesus Christ’s second coming and the fulfillment of God’s covenant to David, his descendant. Christ (Messiah) in the “Millennial” reign will sit on the throne of David. When the transition is over, He will sit here on earth to start the Dispensation of the Kingdom that goes into eternity.
During that time all stewards will be under His command (Is. 9:6-7, 2 Sam. 7:1-13, Lk. 1:31-32). Christ Jesus’ coming to earth is called his second coming and it will be the time when His presence is on earth for the second time (Acts 1:1-11, 1 Jn. 2:28, Lk. 17:27, Mk. 14:62, Matt. 24, 1 Thess. 3:13, 1 Cor. 15:23, Mal. 3:2).
The Dispensation of the Kingdom will be here on this present earth. The New Heaven and New Earth will not occur until the end of the 1,000 years of the Dispensation of the Kingdom (Rev. 20:1-21:1-5). The word kingdom can be confusing because the term Kingdom can apply to the Eternal Kingdom of God and to the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time (Gal. 5:20-21).
An exciting and enjoyable list to study follows. Look up other references of the word kingdom. Then identify the kingdom in the passage that it is referring. Sometimes it will be the same one. For example, The Dispensation of the Kingdom and the Eternal Kingdom are the same.
1. “Kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 3:2; 5:3).
2. “Kingdom of their Father” (Matt. 13:43)
3. “Son of Man’s coming in His Kingdom” (Matt. 16:28, Lk. 1:33)
4. “My Father’s kingdom” (Matt. 26:29)
5. “Kingdom of Christ and God” (Eph. 5:5)
6. “Kingdom of the Son” (Col. 1:13)
7. “His Kingdom” (2 Tim. 4:1)
8. “The Heavenly Kingdom” (2 Tim. 4:18)
9. “Everlasting kingdom” (2 Pet. 1:11)
Revelation 11:15-16: “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” “And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God.”
The reason why this dispensation is the Dispensation of the Kingdom is that Christ will rule on earth.
Besides, the Jewish Nation Stewardship Institution will be here on earth, fulfilling the prophetic government promise to David in relation to Christ. Humanity will also be in its natural bodies, while saints of previous dispensations will be in their glorified bodies. All rulership will follow the chain of command under King Jesus.
This world will be responsible for knowing and following the chain of command. They are to obey and respect God’s intention for the Nation of Israel, who is His primary Stewards at this time (Ez. 39:7, 25).
Christ’s rulership will continue through this dispensation. Humanity will still be present on earth and will remain in great need of redemption under a just government’s controlling behavior (Is. 65:18-25). Death will continue through this dispensation until the end of the 1,000 years when the Great White Throne Judgment will be completed (Rev. 20:1-21:2).
Satan will not be an active factor at this time as he will be locked-up and restrained (Rev. 20:1-3). . Satan, at this time, will be locked-up and restrained. Satan will be unable to lead his fallen angels (devils and demons). He will not be able to tempt and cause outside rebellion in the hearts of humanity.
However, children who are born within this dispensation will still need to accept and receive Jesus Christ as Lord of their life (Is. 65:20-21, Rev. 20:7-10). Satan at this time will not influence those who are not saved. These non-believing humans will be condemned and cannot say “that Satan made me sin.” Instead, they will be condemned for rejecting God’s finished work at the cross on their behalf (Rom. 5:7-8, 1 Jn. 5:9-14).
A large number of nonbelievers will come from within families that have broken down. The ending of this Dispensation of the Kingdom there is a significant number of those born who will still follow Satan in the battle called Gog and Magog against Christ Jesus (Rev. 20:8-9, Ez. 38:2, 16, 18-23).
7. Dispensation of the Fullness of Time: In this dispensation there will be an eternal Kingdom ruled by God along with all the redeemed stewards (Eph. 1:10, 2 Kings 19:15, Ps. 45:6, Dan. 2:44, Matt. 6:33, Acts 28:23, Rev. 12:10). They will carry out the eternal plans of creation to perfection for His Glory!
Some of the characteristics from the previous Dispensation will carry into the Eternal Kingdom. All of the redeemed saints, the stewards from all dispensations will be there. They will be under the authority of the Godhead. The King of kings will still be the LORD of Lords, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end. Jesus Christ’s throne is eternal.
Believers will reign with Christ under the chain of command that will be established by the Godhead. Their orders will be different as He appoints them. The Godhead holds the Institutional Stewardship that will never fail so no new dispensation will be needed. The Dispensation of the Fullness of Time is the very last Dispensation. Sin will be no more, and all saints will live forever.
All fallen angels, along with Satan, will be in eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire. This place was a specific creation for Satan (the Devil) and his angels (Matt. 25:41). All those who reject God and who reject His revealed truths will be in the Lake of Fire.
Christ’s throne and the Tree of Life will reside in the New Jerusalem, which will come down to the “New” earth (Rev. 21:5-6). Within Heaven and Earth, there will be no division (Rev. 22:1-5).
The Bride of Christ (the New Jerusalem) will come down from Heaven and unite with the “New” earth in the event referred to as the marriage feast of the Lamb (Rev. 21:1-4). At that time, Jesus Christ will hand everything over to the first person of the trinity (the Godhead, Elohim) for eternity. Christ Jesus will then have wholly fulfilled Elohim’s plan that He solely planned in eternity past (1 Cor. 15:28).
Now then, where will the saints be? For those who are in their natural bodies at the end of the millennium, there is no clear answer. Perhaps they will receive their redemptive body at the time of the New Heavens and Earth. The Word of God does not say specifically.
We do know those saints will receive their glorified bodies. However, there will not be any sin. Therefore, logically and spiritually somewhere, along the line going into this Eternal Dispensation, they would receive their final eternal bodies. Some speculate and say it will be at the time of the Great White Throne Judgment. Nevertheless, if it is, it will not be with the condemned. The declaration of Psalms, chapter one reveals it will not happen with the condemned.
Psalms 1:5: “Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.”
Each of the previous Dispensations ended with humanity’s failure. However, the Eternal Dispensation will not. There will be no non-redeemed people in eternity. God will provide a new dispensation based on His covenant of redemption, which will then be complete. The Dispensation of the Fullness of Time does not end because in it God will have completed His offer of redemption to humanity. Satan and the non-redeemed, along with all evil, will be eternally in the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:11-15, 21:8, Matt. 13:36-42).
The Chart that follows shows God’s dealings with humanity through the lens of the Ordained Institutions of stewards.
This chart shows the instrument of whom God ordained as stewards. God’s dealing through them brings us understanding of the Dispensations as they show how the LORD Jesus Christ reaches the people of this world. God will continue to reach the lost through His stewards and through the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
God ordained each of the individual institutions. They were to reach humanity with the message of salvation. These institutions brought and are bringing the message of sanctification and the loving life-changing message of the gospel to the lost.
The non-redeemed in eternity could have accepted it! However, they did not respond according to God’s provisions that He had ordained. Have you responded?
On pg. 281
Summary and Takeaway Truths
Chart 09-The Stewardship Institution
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On pg. 284
Chapter 9
Chapters Forward / Goals - Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12.
It is the failure and sin of disobedience in a Major Dispensation. The failure begins the changing of the Dispensation.
Humanity’s failure and sins of disobedience accompanied by rebellion will bring about the transition and Irreversible Punitive Judgments. Failure is the fifth Major Dispensations Operation Key, and humanity is always to blame.
All Seven Operating Keys can appear and occur within the life of a Major Dispensation. When the fifth rule (failure and sin) becomes evident, the dispensation starts coming to its end and a new Major Dispensation begins in its infancy. This is the transition period. If no failure occurs, then the Dispensation would never end.
The two transitions occur as one, and do not conflict with the change from the old to the new, they are symmetrical and unified under the control of the sovereignty of God. During the transition, the old Major Dispensation decreases, and the new Major Dispensation increases. Thus, both operate at the same time.
The Seven Operation Keys move forward a Major Dispensation in the following order:
The Process of a transition (out) occurs with the failure of one dispensation, which comes to an end with the Irreversible Punitive Judgment’s completion. During the same time the new dispensation is starting (in). The Universal truths stay the same, the new with modified laws are introduced taking control, and the old stewardship is replaced with the new stewardship. When the Irreversible Punitive Judgment is over the new dispensation is in full control.
Note: During all transitions the Redemptive Covenant continues, covenants are not dispensations, the Redemptive covenant is the working of God inclusively. The Redemptive Covenant is completed from stage one to stage two by God, within the Godhead’s planning and then dispensations carries the Redemptive Covenant to its fulfillment.
The two transitions (“in and out”) occur simultaneously, one for the Old decreasing Major Dispensation and one relating to the new Dispensation that is increasing. Transitions and the Irreversible Punitive Judgment will be the discussion of the next two chapters. They would never occur if there was no “failure and sin” on humanity’s part.
The process of a transition, ‘in and out,’ occurs at the beginning or ending of a dispensation, and the two processes, ‘in and out,’ are one, and this combination can be seen happening at the beginning or ending of a dispensation.
Note: the eternal Dispensation called the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time is the Seventh Dispensation that will never end. Its structure will never fail; the fifth operating rule of failure never occurs. Therefore, no second transition or a punitive judgment will transpire for there will be no failure (Eph. 1:10, Rev. 21, 22:1-7, 14, Rom. 14:17). In all of God’s Major Dispensations, two of them have only one dispensational transition. They are the Dispensation of Innocence (none beginning the process, ‘in’ of creation) and the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time (no process ending, ‘out’ of the last eternal dispensation).
Remember, the shortness or length of time of a dispensation is not the controlling factor. Rather the events (in the economy) within the dispensation continue for however long, God’s longsuffering continues. The Seven Keys of Operation govern the administration or dispensation of the economy. They work in conjunction with God’s longsuffering as contained within His eternal plan.
The Dispensational system was created by God to work out the details of His economy that He ordained for a particular variable time in history. The redemption of humans after humanity’s failure was in His plan.
A dispensation is one economy within His entire plan, which contains vital material for a historical period. Each dispensation contains the details of the historical economy of all events that God the Sovereign eternal creator planned.
His plan that is experienced by humans throughout history is that He wants to preserve them for everlasting remembrance (Ps. 18:30, 102:12-19, Rom. 15:4, Jn. 12:47, Rev. 20:12-15). The one plan of God has contains the seven Major Dispensations, each potentially containing the Seven Operational truths for the historical progression of His eternal plan.
The seven Major Dispensations carry out or work out the historical accomplishments that God designed in His Master Plan. History moved along as the dispensations move forward to bring Christ Jesus to earth for the redemption of humanity.
The Seven Major Dispensations cover the entire history of humanity on this earth going into eternity. The eternal plan contains the progressive completion of God’s redemptive plan and each dispensation has its part in the plan.
The fifth Operational Key within the dispensation is the failure and sin of humanity. With failure, God’s longsuffering ends, the transition begins the start of the next dispensation in infancy. Then God brings the new dispensation into operation through the transition and the Irreversible Punitive Judgment ending the old dispensation.
The fifth Operation Key starts the ending in God’s plan for the dispensation. Whenever believers fail to carry out their responsibility of making a difference in the world and fail to live transformed lives of stewardship, evil spreads. When they compromise the truth, or fail to give testimony or witness to the truth of God and His Word, failure ensues and the dispensation fails (2 Cor. 5:18-23, Matt. 28:18-20, Rom. 1-2).
With the stewards’ failure, disobedient, rebellious, and not being just in practice, and living in unrighteousness even after knowing the truth they become evil. They rejected the truth of God. Living recklessly, becoming like the rest of unbelieving humanity (Gen. 2:15 cf., 3:1-8, 6:1-8, 11:1-9, 2 Chron. 10, 12:13-14, 13, 1 Kings 12:20, 32, 14:16, 15:30, 2 Kings 13:6, Amos 7:11, Is. 9:8-21, 10:1-12, 24, Acts 3:13-14, 28:23-29, Rom. 11, 1 Tim. 4:1-5, 2 Tim. 3:1-5, Rom. 11:11-25, Rev. 20:7-15).
God’s truths reveal and demonstrate that humanity is not able to achieve holiness. Humanity cannot obtain lasting righteousness because of their evil. Evil is inherent in their depraved nature. Apart from God’s mercy and grace, humans when left to themselves, will lead humanity to complete eternal failure. Human failures in each Dispensation are evident and are documented clearly.
Surrendering to God is vital, let Him through His provision in Christ Jesus transform you, and cling to Him at all times. Study His revealed Word and accept His ways over the ways of your habits and over the wicked imaginations of your heart.
God’s shows His foreknowledge all throughout history. He is the architect of the history of humankind. Those who cling to God can be thankful for His imputing righteousness on the basis of His love, mercy, and grace through our Lord Jesus Christ!
Everyone who knows these truths in their personal life should seek to live in appreciation of them. If only Adam and Eve had trusted and obeyed God's truth, life would have been different.
Today believers are to be holy, righteous, forgiving, and just, not only because God is but also because they are creation is in God’s image. When believers live as God created them, before sin, others will be challenged and inspired to repent and accept the certainties of God and His love, mercy, and grace (Rom. 8:13, 1 Pet. 4:17-19).
You demonstrate faith and faithfulness when you live for God in all circumstances. Therefore, whenever you pray, you are submitting to His will and are exercising faith. No matter what your understanding is at the time, even though you may be confused or suffering, you are showing confidence in your faith as you submit to God.
The loyalty of one’s personal faith is a substance of trust in Him. The willingness to obey Him, the architect of a believer’s faith shows endearment to the only one God. Living by faith and acting in love demonstrates gratitude and appreciation for the Creator. One’s daily attitude and action by fellowship speak reveals real dependency upon Him (Phil. 4:6, Col. 4:2, Rom. 8:26, 12:12, Jas. 5:18).
Hebrews 11:6: “But without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
The particular failure of a dispensation is the primary catalyst for the change in a dispensation. Simply put, it causes a new dispensation to begin (see the chapters on God’s transitions and Irreversible Punitive Judgments for more information).
Satan, the flesh, and the world betrays or deceives a person with spiritual blindness (2 Cor. 4:3-5, Rom. 8:4-8, 2 Pet. 1:4, 1 Jn. 2:17, Matt. 4:1-10, Lk. 4:1-10, Eph. 6:10-13). Failure, can happen when saved stewards procrastinate, give-up, and when they compromise a holy lifestyle. All of these lead to the forsaking of their leadership responsibilities (Eph. 6:12, 1 Tim. 4:1-2, Jas. 4:17).
Human failures have been, energized by Satan’s evil leadership of deception through the administration of God’s rules since creation (2 Cor. 4:4, Eph. 6:12, Is. 14:12-21, Ez. 28:1-10). A dispensation ends when the longsuffering of God ends. God does not delight in his punitive-condemnation judgment, but still judges because it is just, right, and best for humanity. This is especially true because He gives people the opportunity to accept or reject Him (Acts 17:24-28, 2 Pet. 3:9, Rom. 2:4-6, Jn. 3:16-21, 2 Pet. 3:9).
With humanity’s failure as stewards, change begins. Time is not the controlling factor, rather the events of humanit's failure are. Today’s dispensation ends after God’s strategic longsuffering ends, coupled with His purpose and His justice.
However, He still loves you and He does not want you to perish because of failure. He continues to work with humanity. As long as you live, before the Rapture occurs, you can turn to Him and find salvation and purpose. Today, is the day of salvation, will you receive Jesus Christ?
Humans fail in every Dispensation, except the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time. God’s eternal Dispensation never ends, for it is entirely under the redemption brought about by God through Christ Jesus (Eph. 1:10).
Witnessing, teaching, training, and warning the lost is a universal responsibility. Witnessing was always and still is the personal responsibility of believers in every dispensation. Conversion is at the heart of God. He is not willing that any should perish (2 Pet. 3:9).
However, men do perish in their evil depravity because they reject the message of God’s Word. The condemned rejected the proclamation of salvation by His stewards (Jn. 3:16-21, Ez. 3:17-21, 2 Pet. 2:5, Deut. 6:1-17, Tit. 1:1-10, 2 Tim. 2:2, Prov. 11:3, Matt. 28:19, 2 Cor. 5:17-21, Ps. 27:1, 34:11, 40:9-10, 116:13-14, Rom. 10:14-17).
God preserves all who come to Him (Is. 56, 1 Jn. 5:13, 10, Rom. 8). The Old Testament saints who received the inheritance prescribed by God “are called” along with the New Testament saints. They are “called out” for eternity, both saved Jews and Gentiles.
God shows mercy and demonstrates His grace by extending His longsuffering. He gives humanity the opportunity for sainthood. A person must realize that apart from God in Christ, humanity would never be able to be holy and righteous.
God shows compassionate mercy and grace through the different dispensations. He gave many opportunities that ended with humanity’s failure. Yet, God in Christ Jesus is still demonstrating His love, mercy, and grace to the world today. He does not want humans to perish (2 Pet. 3:9, Heb. 1:1-3).
On pg. 289
Failures that Brought on the Previous Punitive Judgments
The Dispensation of Innocence Adam and Eve, along with angels were chosen stewards of God. They brought about the failure of the first Dispensation. Adam and Eve were the first created humans, and from them, all humans are born. They lacked trust and disobeyed God’s revealed commands.
The Federal-Headship, Adam complicit with Eve were the first of the human race, they wanted to be god-like. Thus sin and death came into the world. Humans were created without sin, yet humanity chose to sin lacking trust, full of pride, self-centeredness, and disobedient, which resulted in death for humanity (Gen. 2:17, Prov. 11:19, 16:25, Heb. 2:1415, Rom. 5).
They failed by eating of the fruit of a forbidden tree, the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, which they were commanded-clearly not to eat.
Humanity’s innocence disappeared and they defiled their offspring. They would never be innocent again because of the defilement that was passed on to all their descendants (Gen. 3:1-8, Rom. 5). Because of God’s love, He provided the way to be innocent again through Himself in the incarnation (hypostatic union) of Jesus Christ and through the cross (Jn. 1:1, 14, Eph. 1:7, Phil. 2:5-11).
God’s intervention was the only way by which humanity could regain a correct relationship with God. God the Son, Jesus Christ, accomplished the satisfactory payment that humanity could not. God in holiness demonstrated His Love for humanity.
Romans 5:6-9: “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man, someone would even dare to die. Nevertheless, God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.”
Angels are spirit beings created by God (Gen. 1:1). God created them to be holy and with the free ability to choose to remain in that state of their creation. Otherwise, they could follow Satan’s fall during the Dispensation of Innocence (Gen. 3, Ez. 28:13).
Demons are fallen angels that fell with Satan, losing their stewardship position (Rev. 12:3-4). Fallen angels are actively at work in the world today, working against God and Christians (Eph. 6:10-13, 2 Cor. 11:13-15). Angels who remained faithful to God “are confirmed” in their holiness, and they function as God’s messengers and are involved with believers in this life (1 Tim. 5:21).
Angels learn from believers and have a ministry with those who will be heirs of salvation (Heb. 1:13-14, Matt. 18:10, 1 Cor. 11:10). Someday believers will take part in judging the angels (1 Cor. 6:3).
Humans, who have received transformation by God's works in eternity, will take the place that the angels have, which is next in the chain of command under God. Since the fall, believers have been adopted as children of God, positioning the believer in the chain of command directly under the Lord Jesus Christ (Jn. 1:12, 1 Cor. 6:3, Eph. 5:1, Phil. 2:15, Rom. 8:16-21). In Christ Jesus, we inherit sonship (Gal. 3:26, 4:6, Jn. 1:12, Rom. 8).
In the Dispensation of Conscience, the worldwide flood came on humanity because of its wickedness. They failed to keep from the sins of their imagination and temptations. They created things in their own making, doing what they wanted in their own eyes (Gen. 6:5, 12, 2 Pet. 2:1-5, Tit. 1:15-16). Because of the hardening of the conscience, the stewards became ineffective to lead humans into correctness (Gen. 6:5, 12, 1 Pet. 3:20, 2 Pet. 2:5).
When He comes back to earth, our Lord Jesus stated that it would be similar to the time of Noah. There will be a "laissez-faire" attitude towards the things of God (Matt. 24:36-49). Back then the entire human race had become evil and disobedient, and only Noah and his family were spared (1 Pet. 3:18-20). People of that Dispensation got to the point of expressing that they did not need God. In Job 22:12-18, Eliphaz accused Job wrongly.
Nevertheless, the story refers to a previous time, possibly the time just before the flood. Humanity expressed they were empty; they were in their need for God, and yet wanted "God to get away from them."
The sins of their imagination took on corruption, as did the union between man and woman. This sin was an Absolute Universal moral corruption. Angels who had fallen with Satan took women and impregnated them. Angels were part of the corrupting of the human race. (Gen, 6:1-5, Job 1:6, 2:1, Deut. 3:11, 13, Num. 13:1-2, 33, 21, 13:29, 32 2 Pet. 2:4, Jude 1:6, 2 Sam. 21:15–22, 1 Sam. 17:4, 23, Gen. 10:15–16, 14:5, 13, Amos 2:9–10, Deut. 2:20–21, 2 Sam. 21:16, 18, 20, Josh. 11:21-22, 15:13, 21:11, 1 Chron. 11:23, Deut. 9:2, 1 Chron. 20:6).
Some Christians believe there is doubt regarding the identity of the sons of God. They believe the righteous are descendants of Seth and are the sons of God spoken about. These rebelled and married Cain's descendants. The "daughters of men" were the unrighteous descendants of Cain and the Nephilim are the offspring of their union (the progeny of Seth and Cain's union in marriage). However, all earlier sources refer to the "sons of heaven" as angels.
In The Dispensation of Conscience, humanity became corrupt by their wicked imaginations and thinking. The entire human race had become disobedient except Noah, and his family, whom God spared (1 Pet. 3:18-20).
Today, humanity is still experiencing corruption. Human relationships of reproduction effect life by abortion and alternate lifestyles (Homosexuality and transgenderism and the breaking down of the marriage union between a man and a woman). When we understand the teachings of angels, it is helpful to couple it with the original stewardship reason for angels. Since creation, angels were supposed to have a ministering responsibility to believers, they were to attend to believers according to God’s direction, but Satan and his wicked angels did not.
Hebrews 1:13-14: “But to which of the angels --- Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?”
The Dispensation of Human Government failed because of false worship, self-centeredness, pride, and through the uniting of all humanity to partake and join against God by establishing a false religion. They created a tower in the city Shinar, called the tower of Babel to reach the heavens on their own and through their own imagination, and religious works (Gen. 9-11).
Humanity invented and established their own-way instead of the revealed ways of God. They built a tower to reach the heavens and sinned by playing God (Gen. 11:4).
Human religious institutions or governments cannot keep or cause individuals to follow God (Gen. 11:1-6). Even today, humanity is without God in Christ Jesus, and as such worships in their own-condemning ways. In so doing they miss the truth of God’s Word. Those who believe that the government will be the answer and those who worship government apart from Christ Jesus show an evil heart. Self-centeredness only demonstrates humanity’s inability to worship correctly.
They suppose that the government alone can correct the evil, which it cannot. They continue making new laws that cannot transform the heart. Many are in direct violation of God’s Word. Always making more laws proves the government’s inability to change hearts. In addition, the “Tower of Babel” shows humanity’s failures through the establishing of a religion apart from God and His revealed plan. Being apart from God’s plan only leads to failure since religion and government cannot bestow holiness and righteousness upon individuals (Prov. 14:12).
Proverbs 16:25: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”
Also, in the Dispensation of Promise, through a chosen family (Rom. 9:4-5), the select family of Israel discovered that Moses added Laws that were unbearable (Gal. 3:16-19, Acts 15:5-10, Rom. 7). The addition of the law did not change the heart but caused the conflict. The law only made them slaves, incapable of having any change in their spirit. Therefore, apart from God, it is impossible to change the evil depravity of the human soul (Rom. 8:3). Change is only possible by the Lord Jesus Christ.
Israel’s self-centeredness led to its failure. It started in their rejecting of the Father’s theocracy (through prophets, priest, and kings) in the Dispensation of Promise under the Old Covenant (Testament) (Is. 1:2-4, 5:13, Mal. 1:6).
Followed by their rejection of the Father, they rejected the Son and crucified Him by the "hands of the Gentiles" (Jn. 19, Acts 13:26, 30, 38-41). Israel rejected the Holy Spirit's offer for forgiveness and their stewardship. Israel's failure resulted in God revealing His Mystery Dispensation (Acts 7:1- 50, 51-60, 13:46, 18:4-6, 28:23-29, Eph. 1 to 2).
Their rejection has postponed their promises and leadership as a Nation. Israel was laid aside, and the 70th-week of Daniel was delayed until the completion of the Body of Christ in the "church age" (Rom. 11). God inserted this Mystery Dispensation, stopping or postponing the final 70th-week judgment for the Nation of Israel and the world (Rev. 1 to 20:6).
In the Dispensation of Grace, individuals will fail again during the Dispensation of Equality. They will become lovers of themselves and those who rejected the Gospel message will be left behind from the Rapture event. These nonbelievers will go through the Tribulation wrath and will die.
All humans in this Dispensation are on an equal basis. All are given the opportunity for deliverance that would set them free eternally. Yet, many reject God’s grace. The 70th week of Daniel is the judgment (the Irreversible Punitive Judgment) of the Dispensation of Grace for nonbelievers (1 Tim. 4:1-4, 2 Tim. 3:1-7, 2 Thess. 1 to 2, Rev. 1 to 20:6).
The Nation of Israel is waiting for this Dispensation to end. Today the Dispensation is overlaying God’s working and completing Israel’s promises, yet it is still the judgment on the Nation that started with the Times of the Gentiles. The ending of this Dispensation is unknown since it is a mystery not revealed.
These following facts of today describe that the time is near. The description gives the warning that the time could be soon for the Rapture. Stated earlier, the Rapture ends this Dispensation. There is no turning back to the time of equality. Again, today is the day of salvation. Choose today whom you will take, God’s way or your own!
Things that seem to point to the end of this Dispensation are as follows:
There could be more events named. These were just some that believers need to take into consideration.
In the Dispensation of Christ’s Earthly Kingdom, humanity fails in a perfect government. Satan is released from the bottomless pit, where an unknown number will follow him. They will attack in rebellion against the Lord Jesus Christ and His perfect Millennial Kingdom. At the Battle called Gog and Magog, many of the children who were born and did not turn to God the Son will follow Satan (Ps. 66:1-10, Rev. 20:7-10, Is. 65:11-12, 20). All that spend eternity in the Lake of Fire are without excuse and hope.
2 Corinthians 6:2: “For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
In The Dispensation of the Fullness of Time, there will be no failure or sin. God’s entire plan of redemption will be completed and all things will be new and eternal.
On pg. 297
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On pg. 299
Chapter 10
Chapters Forward / Goals - Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12.
Important, review from the previous chapters of the Seven Fundamental Operational Guiding Rules of the seven Major Dispensations.
Chapter 6: First Key, Universal Absolute Truths are the rules that never change. They contain the worldwide universal truths of God.
Chapter 7: Second key, Carryover Laws and Modified Rules: They become part of the new dispensational operating rules.
Chapter 7: Third key, Rules of Operation that are new and not given in preceding Dispensations.
Chapter 8: Fourth key, Institution of Stewards: God ordained those that are responsible for the Dispensation operation.
Chapter 9: Fifth key, Humanity’s Failure: Begins the changing of the Dispensation.
Chapter 10: Sixth key, Transition is the operation between Dispensations, starting at the failure within a Dispensation. The old Dispensation decreases, and the new one increases until it takes full control.
Chapter 11: Seventh key, Irreversible Punitive Judgment is the final judgment on the Dispensation that failed. Once the judgment begins, it is irreversible for the old Dispensation.
There are Transitions between each Dispensation. The Seven Major Dispensations, have at least one transition, it can be either at the beginning or the ending or one at both the beginning and ending of the dispensation.
The operating system of a dispensation, a Transition is the sixth of the Seven Fundamental Key system’s rules. They move the Dispensation from the old to the new Dispensation, starting with the failure.
The first six Dispensations have a transition at the end running consecutively with the new Dispensation transitioning. As the transition event begins, the new Dispensation’s operation is taking full control. As they continue, at this point the old Dispensation decreases and the new Dispensation increases.
The Seven Major Dispensations, each have at least one transition, it can be either at the beginning or the ending or one at both, the beginning and ending of the dispensation. There are six ending transitions that connect the first Six Major Dispensations of Scripture, and six beginning transitions connecting them at their start. This chapter will explain this in more detail in the following.
The following are the Transitions of Scripture of the first and last Major Dispensations:
With the next five dispensations both have one transition at the beginning and one at the end: starting with the second, the Dispensation of Conscience, the third, the Dispensation of Human Government, the fourth, the Dispensation of Promise, the fifth, the Dispensation of Grace, the sixth, the Dispensation of the Kingdom, they have both a beginning and an ending transition that moves it into the corresponding next Major Dispensation.
Note: the other two as explained earlier have only one transition, the Dispensation of Innocence and The Dispensation of the fullness of Time.
All Seven Operational Rules are common to a Dispensation. They can operate as it moves forward towards failure. If failure never occurs, then the last three operating rules will never happen, and the Dispensation will be eternal.
A Dispensation would never end if the last three Operational Keys in the system did not occur. The failure causes the bringing about the transition and the Irreversible Punitive Judgment. Humanity causes the breakdown and failure is the catalyst for change. Ultimate failure causes the Dispensational to change and to go into the transition. Then the beginning of the transition takes place and the new Dispensation begins in infancy.
Victory is only found in the Eternal Dispensation of the Fullness of Time. God’s eternal Kingdom meets perfection, and the last three Operating Keys never occur.
Time does not control the starting and ending of a transition. God’s patient and long-suffering determines the economic events that start and complete a transitional change. The old demise and the full operation of a new Dispensation are under God’s control.
Behind the new Dispensation operating, one can see the residue of the old Dispensation. The old Dispensation disappears until the transition comes to completion. Remember, in a transition operation between two Dispensations the events are going on at the same time. As the new Dispensation is taking full control, humanity becomes responsible for obedience to the rules of the new Dispensation.
On pg. 301
This transition’s operation brought an end to the first dispensation with Adam and Eve’s failure with sin transpiring (Gen. 3). Their sin began the decreasing events in the Dispensation of Innocence, and at the same time started the new Dispensation of Conscience with its new events increasing.
Expulsion from the Garden of Eden was the Irreversible Punitive Judgment. With eviction, the Dispensation of Conscience replaced the former Dispensation and took complete control by the expulsion (Gen. 3:24).
The start of the transition is at the point of Adam and Eve’s sin beginning the Dispensation of Conscience. This dispensation runs until the ending transition commencing with the permeation of sin years later, and God’s long-suffering ending.
The total sinfulness of humanity encompassed the world during Noah’s lifetime. This transition started with the failure and decreasing events of the Dispensation of Conscience, and at the same time began the increasing functions into the next transition, to the Dispensation of Human Government, which took control when God chose Noah and his family (Gen. 6:13, 17, 7:11, 17-23, 2 Pet. 2:4-5, Matt. 24:37-42, Lk. 17:27-36, Gen. 6).
When things were at the point of no return, God shut the doors to the Ark as Noah entered the Ark. Furthermore, the world’s population died, but God extended grace to Noah’s family. The Dispensation of Conscience ended as the Dispensation of Human Government was taking full control (Gen. 8-9).
on pg 302
The start of the third transition operation begins with the Lord examining the building of the Tower of Babel. This Tower was the end of the long-suffering of God, and the third Dispensation started to decrease, the Dispensation of Human Government. Once again, the long-suffering of God ends.
Note the account of Abram's genealogy revealed in Genesis 11, which shows the new Dispensation increasing into the Dispensation of Promise in transition.
The third transition operation ended into the full process of the next Dispensation, the Dispensation of Promise. This was after the residue of the events with the apostate prophet named Balaam (Num. 22, 2 Pet. 2:15, Jude 1:11).
Just after the Israelites entered into the Promised Land, there is no mention of the religious structure of the former Dispensation. The Dispensation of Promise was in full operation by this time (Gen. 11:29 to Joshua 1, Gen. 12:1, Deut. 32:8-9, Acts 17:26).
on pg 302
This fourth transition was a Mystery transition coming at the ending of the Dispensation of Promise. It began when the Nation of Israel had failed and culminated with their sin against God the Holy Spirit. Their failure caused the beginning of the Mystery Transition, ushering in the beginnings of the Dispensation of Grace (Rom. 9, 11, Acts 7-28).
The starting of the Mystery Transition was not prophesied. Three major significant events in the history of Israel led to the ultimate failure of the Dispensation of Promise (Their refusal of God the Father, then God the Son, and last God the Holy Spirit). The three actions caused God’s plan for the Nation of Israel to be temporarily postponed.
The Nation’s refusal to follow Jesus was manifested most notably through their rejection of their stewardship. Rejecting the Holy Spirit was the event that started the transitional end of the Dispensation of Promise, and that caused it to end with the Irreversible Punitive Judgment on the Nation (Acts 3:12-26, 7:51-60, 13:42-51, 18:4-7, 28:28-29). There is no reversible unique stewardship for the Nation of Israel until the end of the Dispensation of Grace.
The Nation of Israel’s place of leadership would now be postponed resulting in delaying of the fulfillment of their promises. Israel's final opportunity to repent passed and the transition began. This postponement is the last event of the Dispensation of Promise and was the start of the transition to the Mystery Dispensation (Acts 8).An event that started the Mystery Transition was the stoning of Stephen. He was boldly empowered (filled) with the Holy Spirit. Stephen was preaching to the stewards of the Nation, the leaders who were to lead the stewardship of the Nation of Israel, and they needed to repent and receive the Lord Jesus Christ, as their Savior and Messiah (Acts 7:54-60).
Those leading Israel vehemently opposed the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51-53, 28:25-29, Matt. 12:32). They aggressively rejected the third person of the trinity. They refused to repent and carry out their stewardship of the New Covenant. They deliberately rejected the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit's conviction to repent.
After receiving the power and indwelling of the Holy Spirit, their sin became evident. Their rejection manifested itself during the first part of Acts one through seven. In addition, with their refusal, a Mystery Transition operation began at the end of Acts 7. This transition began the Dispensation of Grace for all humanity based on the Apostle Paul’s message. This new Dispensation began the new stewardship structure, which was no longer exclusive to the Nation of Israel (Rom. 1:16, Eph. 3:1-7, Gal. 1).
The Dispensation of Promise would have continued upon repentance. However, the Nation of Israel had to repent and turn back to God through Christ Jesus. The propagation of the Gospel would have gone through their Nation’s leadership role. Their leadership would have continued until their rejection later in history. Then, as prophesied, when failure would come, it would bring about the completion of the predicted seven-year Tribulation transition into the Kingdom Dispensation (Lev. 26, Acts 3:17-21).
If the last of the three failures had not happened in God’s plan, then the Nation of Israel would have become stewards of the Gospel. Gentiles would have received the Gospel, as they will in the tribulation period. The fourth transition than would have been the prophesied transition operation into the Dispensation of the Kingdom. The Mystery Transition would not have existed. This fourth Dispensation transition would have led to the Dispensation of the Kingdom.
However, because the Mystery Transition into the Dispensation of Grace is the fourth transition, the fifth prophesied transition leads (out) into the Kingdom after the Rapture. Originally then in the fifth transition Gentiles would have been saved (transformed) through the Nation of Israel’s stewardship (Rom. 11, Acts 3:17-21, 28:26-28).
Their rejection brought about a great program, hidden in God that He had not previously revealed (Rom. 11:11-15, 16:25-27, Eph. 3:1-7, Col. 1:24-27). God had a hidden program, a secret plan of equality, a Mystery Dispensation, the Dispensation of Grace (Ephesians 2 to 3).
This secret program shows God’s foreknowledge. God already foreknew and prepared for Israel's failed choices. God predetermined to save and offer salvation to the whole world, regardless of Israel's failure through a Mystery Dispensation of equality (Jn. 3:16). Again, Satan is defeated even though his influence on the Nation of Israel was evident. He failed, ultimately, and salvation became available to all equally!
The approximate years of the Mystery Transition’s operation were between AD 34 and AD 36, it continued to AD 70. The Mystery Dispensation was in full operation by AD 70. The fifth transition into the Kingdom Dispensation is still forthcoming. This is where God will fulfill the prophesied developments regarding the Nation of Israel, going into the Kingdom Dispensation. It continues where it left off at Acts 7, picking up after the Rapture that was a mystery (1 Cor. 2:6-10, 15:51, 1 Thess. 4:13-18, 2 Thess. 2:5-8).
Remember, the Old Testament and the four Gospels, prophesied the transition of Israel into the Kingdom Dispensation (Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John). Israel’s predicted prophesied transition was part of the plan of the earthly kingdom and was overlaid and postponed by the Mystery Dispensation.
Israel’s failure was God’s plan to save all equally (Rom. 11) and the seven-year tribulation is going to be the final phase of the transition into the Kingdom Dispensation. This Dispensation operates today and will continue to do so until the Mystery Rapture of the believing church is over.
How do we know if the Rapture has not already happened? First, read the rest of this book and ask yourself where you stand in relationship to salvation (transformation) as explained in the Bible.
Second, ask God, the LORD Jesus Christ into your life as Romans 10:9-13, John 1:12, and 1 John 5:9-14 explain. Third, look for others who agree with these Biblical truths. Fourth, cling to the assurance the Holy Spirit gives you in your soul. Read Romans 8 and believe, and trust God’s truths He has given. Know that John 3:16 and chapter 17 are yours personally! In so doing God will confirm your faith in your soul!
The third Major event also includes the refusal of the Nation of Israel to repent. They rejected the New Covenant, further rejecting their leadership in the world, which was apparent in their stoning of Stephen. Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit of promise. Stephen represented the working of God the Holy Spirit, who was to work through their Nation, but they martyred Stephen and committed the last rejection (Acts 3:13-26, cf. Acts 7, Acts 28:28).
The Dispensation of Grace is part of the period where the Nation of Israel is under, “The Time of the Gentiles” (Lk. 21:24). Israel lost not only its physical leadership role, but also more importantly, it lost its spiritual leadership as a Nation. Now they missed the opportunity to bring about the earthly kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Dispensation of Grace or Equality started with Israel’s failure, the third major event; this final event was the rejection of the Holy Spirit (Acts 7). God chose the Apostle Paul with the mystery of equality at this time (Acts 9).
Paul (called Saul before his name changed in Acts 13:9), was called and taught by Jesus Christ Himself. God the Father, commissioned the Apostle with the Gospel message of equality for Gentiles (Gal. 1:1, 11-12, Acts 9, 13:1-3, 1 Cor. 8:6, Rom. 15:6) and the stoning of Stephan was where the Mystery Transition operation and Dispensation began (Acts 7, Eph. 2-3).
Note for those dispensationalist who start today’s dispensation with the name change, they do not take all the revealed facts into consideration. The problem with this is the lack of understanding transitions and the previous dispensation failure. This book again is to help those who start this dispensation on presumptions without full understanding of Biblical dispensations.
The transition to the Dispensation of Grace started and began increasing after the stoning of Stephen (starting at Acts 8). The equality of both the Jews and Gentiles alike will be preached by believers from this time on. They implore both to receive the New Covenant through the Gospel on an equal basis (Rom. 1-3).
Paul wrote the book of Romans during the events of Acts 20:1-3. The book of Romans is a message from God that includes all people equally. All have the same responsibility to accept Christ. All are personally in need of Him because all are under the bondage of sin and death (Rom. 10:9-13).
This Mystery overlay started a new operating transition into a new Dispensation coming to its fullness by the end of Acts 28, and historically at AD 70.
The “Mystery Dispensation” was an abrupt change. The working of the old Dispensation started decreasing at the end of Acts 7, whereas the new Dispensation increased. However, there is no change to the Gospel of Redemption or the New Covenant, except that the stewardship changed from the Nation of Israel to a New Organism, comprised of a called out and equal church (Eph. 2 and 2:15).
The redemptive covenant given first was to Israel, and a few in the Nation of Israel received it personally. These believers lived before the Dispensation of Promise came to a complete end.
When it ended, these few Jewish and proselyte believers were incorporated within the new organism (Acts 2, Rom. 1:16, Eph. 1:12-13). The new Dispensation, by the end of Acts, became the ruling authority for all believers. The individually saved few Jews of the former Dispensation became incorporated into the Body of Christ as part of the New Organism. They now had equal responsibility with all other believers (Eph. 2:15, Rom. 9:27-28, 11). Remember when a new dispensation takes full control, all are responsible to follow the new developments (2 Peter 3:14-16).
The Dispensation of Grace overlaid the Nation of Israel's leadership. Today's dispensation includes the ongoing judgment on the Nation, before the final Irreversible Punitive Judgment that brings us into the Dispensation of the Kingdom.
When the Rapture occurs, the prophesied transition will begin the 70th week of Daniel. The prophetic teachings of Daniel’s prophecy, with the four Gospel’s accounts and Revelation are the predicted development, going into the Kingdom Dispensation. It will pick up where it left off in Acts 7.
These next differences are vitally important to remember. A Dispensation is not a covenant, and a bond covenant is not a Dispensation. A Dispensation administers the bond covenant, according to the rules given by God (Gal. 3:15).
Another critical point to remember is that a Dispensation is not controlled by time, but by God’s long-suffering. This is all in accordance with His eternal plan. The dispensational Mosaic Law spelled out conditional and unconditional applications of the covenants, but the covenant itself does not change (Ex. 23:20-30, Lev. 26, Deut. 11:13-32). Many times, teachers of bond covenants make the dispensational aspect part of the covenant, but this is incorrect. The dispensational conditions are the application of the unchanged covenant and not the making of a new dispensation.
Remember also that the first Key to a Dispensation is the Absolute Universal Principle, which are rules that do not change. Universal truths and values are revealed throughout all Dispensations. They are absolutes from God, and all humans are to adhere to them.
They are always crucial for trusting God. Humanity was created in His image and is required to follow His universal rules. Worldwide truths need to be grasped according to holiness, righteousness, and justice.
Biblical history has been preserved, and revealed in Scripture to those living today, so one can understand the fallen nature and evil depravity throughout history. God provided for the human race by showing us His love, mercy, and grace through redemption and hope (Rom. 15:4, 1 Cor. 10:12-13).
Believers are to learn how to live before God and others. They are to trust Him in all circumstances, especially when they do not understand what is happening. It is expected of believers that they live in obedience, holiness, righteousness, and justice.
They are to fill their lives with appreciation by obedience to the two commandments that fulfill the whole law. They are to love the LORD God with all their heart, and are to love others as themselves (Matt. 22:36-40, 2 Thess. 3:5, Rom. 13:8-10, 1 Jn. 3:10, 4:8) We are also to pray for one another (1 Thess. 5:17, Eph. 1:15-16, 6:18, Lk. 18:1, 21:36).
Looking backward, from the second major event, was the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ, which was a big part of the prophesied transition into the Kingdom, before the Kingdom was postponed (Jn. 1:11, Matt. 1:21-23, 15:21-28). This second major event, within the failing of the Dispensation of Promise, was the Nation of Israel’s rejection of Christ and their crucifying of their Messiah (Acts 2:22-24). They turned Jesus Christ over to the gentiles and they together crucified Him (Jn. 19:13-42, Acts 2:23, 36).
Gentile rule during the time of the birth and life of our Lord was oppressive. It was a continuation of “The Time of the Gentiles.” Starting back with the partial judgment on the Nation of Israel going into captivity, the time of gentile oppression was the first significant event.
The first Major event of failure for the Nation of Israel was their stubborn refusal to repent of their stubbornness and rebelliousness. Under the kingdom rule in the Old Testament is where The Time of the Gentiles began. Starting with this rejection to repent, the Nation of Israel rejected God the Father. Their chastisement began with the division between the tribes, followed by captivity, and their refusal to repent (1 Ki. 11:31, 2 Ki. 15:29, 1 Chron. 6:15). Oppression 309 came upon them by the Gentile Nations with this chastisement, but no repentance (Mal. 1-3, Is. 7:17, 9:14-17, 8:19-22).
. The laying aside of Israel with the postponement is the Irreversible Punitive Judgment on the Dispensation of Promise. This judgment was completed at the end of the Acts period and ended the Dispensation of Promise and Mystery Transition. The laying aside or layover by God was the Dispensation of Grace, a Dispensation of equality.
Next is the fifth transition, it will end with the Irreversible Punitive Judgment called The Battle of Armageddon that takes place with the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to earth. This will be the end of the prophesied transition’s operation (Rev.16:12-16).
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The Fifth Transition, which Brings the Dispensation of Grace to an End
When this end occurs, the Lord Jesus Christ will come triumphantly back to earth and will sit on his earthly throne for the second time as a victorious King (Is. 9:6-7). At that point the transition will finish, and the period the Word of God calls The Time of the Gentiles will be completed (Lk. 21:20-28). The full operation of the Dispensation of the Kingdom takes full control at that point.
Luke 21:24: “And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”
The starting of the fifth transition is a prophesied transition. It is a time for sifting out the remnant of the true Israel. Also, it was revealed within the Pauline epistles for those living in the Dispensation today.
This “prophesied transition” begins with the physical believer being raptured by Christ. A believer’s promised expectation is their transformation into their eternal existence. Believers will disappear and be taken to heaven to be with God forever at the Rapture event.
Non-believers at the Rapture will be left behind to face the Irreversible Punitive Judgment. Those before the Rapture who heard and rejected the Gospel will be condemned forever. These non-believers will be left behind and enter into the Tribulation period. This event leads to the end, concluding with the punitive judgment of The Battle of Armageddon.
There will be three significant Major events of prophecy occurring. They all will contribute to the ending of the Dispensation of Grace. The following prophecies are found in the writing of the Apostle of Paul relating to today’s dispensation.
Failure, the first of major events prophesied within the Pauline epistles, describes the sinful conditions leading up to the end of the Dispensation of Grace:
Some believers will apostatize.
1 Timothy 4:1-5: "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. Every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer."
The second Major events prophesized by Paul, the world will be religious, but will be evil and unconverted.
2 Timothy 3:1-9: "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was."
The above two passage refer to the latter times of the current worldwide Dispensation. In these passages “the last days, and latter times,” both refer to the ending of the Dispensation of Grace. The apostle of this Dispensation is relating it to the church today and urging believers to take note of the events happening around them. He is advising them not to have any part in the failure. Note, the Spirit expresses eternal truths that come from the inspiration of the apostle Paul (1 Tim. 4:1, 2 Tim. 3:16).
When one looks at the Universal truth of Israel's failures, we see the same thing happening in today's Dispensation (Is. 8:19-22, 9:15-16, Is. 22). Leaders (elders, those who were considered honorable and preachers) are departing from the faith.
This failure is similar how it was in Israel's time. It causes others to not depend on the God of eternity. Instead, they look to human inventions. They give allegiance alone to governments, counselors, drugs, false religion, wizards, horoscopes, and teachers of falsehood. In the process, they invent new problems by their methods and fail in the end.
They no longer seek or ask God for truth or help but turn inward to human reasoning alone as they depart from the faith. Apostatizing, after knowing the truth, they lead humanity to ways of demons. They are hypocrites; they say one thing, but do evil instead.
Their consciences are not even able to feel the conviction of right versus wrong. Humanity's heart has hardened. There is no return or repentance morally. They practice evil to the point of forbidding righteousness. They live dishonorably in marriage. They make the environment of mother earth their god. They even govern the eating of food, regulated by false Biblical rules.
Third Major events prophesized by Paul, some believers will be arrogant and proud.
The third significant major events is the blindness of the Nation of Israel, will finally be over, and lifted at the Rapture. The next Pauline prophetic passage states, “That blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” Here two essential truths are revealed, first is in relationship of the Nation of Israel's program with the ending of the overlaying of today's Dispensation. Second, is the fact that the end will come when the last person who will be saved is saved under the Dispensation of Equality.
The Rapture will occur, and then God will finish His plan with Israel and the prophesied transition begins relating to the Nation of Israel. The transition operation will continue through the tribulation as He draws a true-believing Israel to Himself.
Romans 11:17-28: "And if some of the branches were broken off, (Nation of Israel) and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written”: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is ‘My’ covenant with them, when I take away their sins." Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers."
However, when the Rapture occurs, the second major transition will have come (the 70th-week of Daniel). Changes are assured at this time, and the punitive transition operation of God’s wrath will lead to the end prophecy called The Battle of Armageddon.
Only the Transformed in the Rapture will be gone. The rest of humanity will be left behind:
1 Thessalonians 4:14-18: "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words."
This next reference also addresses the Rapture in the sky that is the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Rapture is fundamental. Note that the Lord does not set foot on the earth during the Rapture. He does not return to abide on this earth. He only comes in the sky, completing the mystery event of the resurrection of all believers and the ending of the Dispensation of Grace.
The Word of God makes it clear that during the Rapture our Lord will be gathering believers unto Himself in the air. This event will end today’s Dispensation for believers. The time that God demonstrates His grace to the world will be over, as presented in the Dispensation of Grace.
Remember, He showed grace to Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, saved Jews before today’s dispensation, and will finish His work with the Nation of Israel after the Rapture. Nevertheless, Irreversible Punitive Judgment on the non-believers left behind on earth will transpire. Those who heard the Gospel and rejected it will face irreversible eternal punishment, and this will begin during the tribulation period.
The third major event of the fifth transition operation happens at the Rapture when God’s wrath comes on non-believers that are left behind. During the tribulation period, the Irreversible Punitive Judgment will end with The Battle of Armageddon.
Our Lord exhorts believers not to fear or be absorbed with His mystery return, the Rapture. We will not be on earth during the tribulation. We will have gone up in the Rapture! All the redeemed from Adam to the present time, will either by physical death or the Rapture, have eternal life. The believers will be with the LORD Jesus Christ forever (Ps. 103, Is. 1:18, Jn. 3:16, 1 John. 1:9–2:2, Rom. 6:23, 5: 9-14, 1 Jn. 5:9-14, 1 Pet. 1:3-4)!
Today’s believers, the Church is His Body the Temple of the Holy Spirit. He is using the Body Church to restrain sin and evil today. The Holy Spirit is restraining through the Church and some day it will be raptured. Yet the Holy Spirit will still be working during the Tribulation period because He is God and the promise given as fulfillment of the New Covenant. After the Rapture there will be a time-lapse between the falling away and the revealing of the “son of perdition.” His revealing will be after the Rapture and after the meeting in the sky. In verses five through eight of 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17, we see here it mention how the restrainer is the Church and that it will be taken out of the way. Taken so the full wrath and wickedness can run its course.
After Paul writes about the restraining force being taken away, the subject turns to our Lord’s second coming to earth (including the final judgment of the “man of sin” and wicked one, see verse 8). If one refuses the truth of the Gospel today, then all that awaits him is confusion and the Punitive Judgment. The Lord God sends confusion as one’s final judgment (2 Thess. 2:10-12, cf. Isa. 11:4, Rev. 19:11-16).
Nevertheless, God wants believers to always, be ready for His meeting in the sky, and living as if the Rapture is going to come this moment. Realize that even though this event is in the future, the future can be for the believer in the next moment. We live by hope for the moment of the Rapture and believers, also are responsible to live as if it will not happen in our lifetime. Remember, when our physical heart stops, we will be in heaven with our LORD whether (either) by death or from the Rapture (2 Cor. 5:6-8, Phil. 1:19-29, 1 Cor 15:42-49).
Transformed and redeemed believers in the Dispensation of Grace can rest assured that the Rapture has not occurred because we are still here. However, you are now responsible not to apostatize, and you are to exercise the ministry of reconciliation (2 Thess. 2:13-17, 2 Cor. 5:18-23).
2 Thessalonians 2:1-17: (Verse 1) "Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.”
(Verses 5-8) “Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, (Verse 8) whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.”
(Verses 10-12) “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion that they should believe the lie that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
(Verses 13-17) “But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work."
The third event will be when the long-suffering of God ends. The failure is within the Dispensation of Grace, reaching full apostasy and wickedness throughout the world.
Those who heard the Gospel and rejected it before the Rapture will die, sealing their destiny. They find themselves in the operating transition, never being able to go back to the opportunity that they had willfully passed up for salvation (2 Thess. 2:8-12).
This event ends the Dispensation of Grace for those left behind. They will enter the prophesied and dreaded tribulation, experiencing death during or in the final battle called The Battle of Armageddon. Their rejection of the Gospel during the Dispensation today sets their destiny. Because of their choice, they are not capable of salvation in the transition, and will be eternally lost at the Rapture.
2 Thessalonians 2:11-12: “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
This Rapture event is a glorious mystery and hope. It is a time of confidence and security of grace promised to believers of this Dispensation. Note 1 Thessalonians 4:18: "Therefore, comfort one another with these words," the Rapture is not a gathering for The Battle of Armageddon, but hope of encouragement.
At the Rapture, all saints will be reunited with their transformed bodies. This includes all the saints from the preceding Dispensations. They will all receive their glorified bodies. The Lord will descend “with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with a trumpet,” ending the Dispensation. After that, there will be no going back to the Dispensation of Grace. For those who remain unsaved, the opportunity for their salvation will now be past (1 Thess. 4:14-18).
The Stewardship Institution, the “restraining” power, is the Body of Christ (today’s church). Today’s church is the force holding back the final events, revealed in this passage of Scripture. Jesus Christ is masculine; the “He” refers to His Body, not just the Holy Spirit (2 Thess. 2:1-17).
Some theologians believe the “restrainer” is the Holy Spirit by himself. As stated before, believers are His temple, and He lives in them today (1 Cor. 3:16-17, 6:19-20). With the Rapture occurring, the believers are raptured and their restraining strength is withdrawn from this world, not the Holy Spirit. Remember, the absolute fact of the New Covenant is the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit in believers.
The Holy Spirit, who is God, does not leave this world or cease to live in the tribulation. He will seal those who will turn to Jesus Christ through the Gospel, preached by the stewards from the Nation of Israel, who then will be Spirit-filled. Individuals will receive the Spirit according to the New Covenant promises (Eph.1:13-14, Rev. 7:1-17).
After the Rapture, there will be a vacuum, and until the time the institution of stewards, the Nation of Israel, accomplishes God’s plan replenishing the earth. The remnant of the Nation of Israel, who receives Jesus Christ in the transition/tribulation, will then perform and accomplish God’s plan for them, ending the transition. The Dispensation of the Kingdom will take full control at the end of the tribulation period.
As stated before, after the Rapture of the church of today is gone, only then will “the man of sin” be revealed. The exact time in this passage not included, so we cannot be dogmatic about the precise revealing. We know it is sometime after the events of the apostatizing.
This passage also teaches that there is no salvation to those who reject the Gospel by the time of the Rapture occurring. There will be no second chance for those who heard and rejected. After the Tribulation period, the Lord will consume the Lawless One with the breath of His mouth, and he will destroy all non-believers with the brightness of His coming. This return refers to Christ Jesus’ second coming to earth. This is when he will set foot on the ground. This is not the Rapture in the sky. The Gospel rejecters will die during the transition of the tribulation period (2 Thess. 2:8-12, Matt. 13, 24).
Verses 1-3 of 2 Thess. 2 mentions the "gathering together," referring to the Rapture. This passage says that before the revealing of "the man of sin," Then it goes on to say "that day," which God will destroy him with the breath of His mouth," referring to the Lord Jesus Christ and His second coming, during the literal second coming to earth in The Battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16:12-21, 19:11-21). This judgment reveals that God is almighty, and will destroy him with one word for he is omnipotent and all-powerful.
Remember when the Rapture occurs, only the redeemed will meet the Lord in the air. All the rest will remain here to go through the Irreversible Punitive Judgment of the tribulation period, as described in the book of Revelation.
Non-believers need to be warned that they will be left behind if they do not believe the gospel before the Rapture. Afterwards their fate will be sealed. Part of their punishment from God will be "strong delusions." They will believe the lies inherent in their souls, the pleasures of unrighteousness, and all the events they will be experiencing, as described in the book of Revelation.
They will be condemned because they did not believe the truth. They did not accept the truth given to them at the time presented during the Dispensation of Grace before the Rapture and the Tribulation period. Those left behind put their faith in idols, such as self, pleasures, government, science, knowledge, and in turn rejected the truths of the Scriptures. Today, it would be best if you considered the Savior of your eternal soul (1 Cor. 1:17-31).
Being left behind and spending eternity in hell are things that must not be ignored. The eternal Lake of Fire is the cruelest emotional desperation one will experience, and it will have no end and it will be lonely. One will not be able to interact with others, they will not be able to see anyone, and they will cry tears repeatedly. Night after night, the torment never ends for the payment of justice. The unregenerate could have avoided it in the LORD Jesus Christ. Yet once in the Lake of Fire, nothing can save you. There will be no visitors, no support, no one to give a hug, no second chance, just fear, and loneliness forever.
That is why today is the day of salvation (Acts 17:23-31, Rom. 10:9-13, 1 Jn. 5:9-14, Jn. 1:12, Rom. 1:16).
2 Corinthians 6: 1-2: “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says, “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
The Dispensation of Grace ends when the last Gentile who will become a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is saved in today’s Dispensation of Grace. At that time, all believers, are Raptured, both Jew and Gentiles, as revealed in Scripture. The prophesied transition will begin and sin will permeate the world (1 Tim. 4:1-5, 2 Tim. 3:1-9, Rom. 11:17-28, 1 Thess. 4:13-18 cf., 5:1-9, 2 Thess. 2).
At the Rapture, He first resurrects the bodies of all believers in this dispensation and those who had died earlier of previous Dispensations. Their spirits accompany Him, then Jesus Christ transforms their earthly bodies into their glorified spiritual ones. Then the Lord Jesus Christ transforms those who are still alive at the time of the Rapture. God changes them into their glorified spiritual bodies, uniting their spirits with their bodies.
The transformations at the Rapture will take place in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump of this Dispensation, as our Lord Jesus calls all believers up to heaven (1 Thess. 4:14-18). The last trump of God for this Dispensation will sound ending the Dispensation of Grace (1 Cor. 15:52, 1 Thess. 4:16).
Note: God informed the believers in the Old Testament about their bodily resurrection. It is not a mystery, only the time of its occurrence is not made clear (Is. 26:19, Job 14:14, 33:28, Heb. 11:13-16). The time of the resurrection was a mystery that God revealed through the Apostle Paul (1 Cor. 15:38-58). God in the Mystery Dispensation revealed the details about the resurrection of Old Testament saints. They were hidden in Himself but now they were published and proclaimed in the writings to the mystery church called the Body of Christ (Eph. 3:9-14, Rom. 16:25, Col. 1:24-26).
The Rapture event will end the overlay of today’s Dispensation on Israel. Israel’s unique relationship and stewardship with God will resume from where it left off in the first century. With the eventful tribulation during the transition time, God will complete His work regarding the chastening of the Nation of Israel. However, the seven-year tribulation there will be a saved Jewish remnant, a sifting out from the false Nation of Israel. God will separate the wheat (believers) from the tares (chaff, unsaved-nonbelievers), ending the tribulation transition and going into the Kingdom dispensation (Matt. 13:1-43, Jer 31, 33:14-16). This tribulation refines Israel of the true Nation (Is 27:12-13).
When the transition operation ends with the second return of Christ Jesus to this earth, the remnant, and those believers alive at the end of The Battle of Armageddon will go into the next Dispensation. These believers will enter the Dispensation of the Kingdom in their natural bodies. These believers will repopulate the world again (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26, 3:5, 12, 21, 8:4, 9:4, 11:1, 18, 12:17, 13:7-9, 13:8-9, 14:6, 12, 15:2-4, 16:2, 15, 17:6, 14, 18:4, 23, 19:19-21, 20:1, 6).
Another mystery and uniqueness of the Dispensation of Grace, besides the Rapture of believers, is that God will spare them mercifully and save them from the tribulation and its wrath to come.
Only the unbelievers left on earth will experience the worldwide judgment of the seven-year tribulation period. However, the redeemed in the Dispensation of Grace, will not go through the tribulation judgment on the world. This gift for believers, being spared from His wrath, goes along with God's mercy towards them in today's Dispensation that accompanies the name given the Dispensation. This is why it is called the Dispensation of “Grace” (1 Thess. 1:10, 5:9, Rom. 5:9)!
When the Rapture is over and at the end of the seven years of the tribulation, our Lord Jesus Christ will victoriously come back to earth. He will set up His rule, and will possess and sit on the throne of David as prophesied. The second coming of the Lord ends the transition operation. The Kingdom of our Lord will be in full control, much to the joy of all believers.
The literal, second coming of our Lord will become a reality when He takes residency on earth. His second coming is different from the Rapture. He is coming to complete the Irreversible Punitive Judgment. Remember believers are Raptured first, at least seven years before the battle. The sifting out the true Israel will have reached fulfillment. All nonbelievers who heard the Gospel before the Rapture will die. Those who rejected the steward’s Gospel message during the tribulation period will also die.
When Christ Jesus comes to earth, the Dispensation of the Kingdom takes full control at the end of The Battle of Armageddon. He will sit literally in Jerusalem on the throne of David, His rightful throne for a thousand years, and then at the end, the last battle, the Battle of Gog and Magog, will takes place (Rev. 16:16, Is. 16:5, Jer. 33:14-17). After this, eternity will commence (Rev. 20-22).
A remnant will be His stewards. This Nation will be made-up of a remnant taken from the Nation of Israel. The real Israeli Nation will be His remnant stewards; they will be those who received Christ Jesus.
Those who experienced martyrdom and those who endured, living through the seven-year Tribulation period will enter the Kingdom. This surviving remnant will be the people that will make up the Nation of Israel along with the surviving gentiles who received Christ Jesus. They will all enter the Millennial Reign.
The survivors will still be in their non-redemptive physical bodies; these survivors were saved by the Jewish remnant’s message, and their preaching during the tribulation. They are in their natural body and who will repopulate the earth during the 1000 years (Micah 5:3-8, Rev. 7:9).
Stated earlier, review scriptural verses. The transition tribulation is a period of refining, the sifting period of God’s plan calling the true Israel to salvation, the remnant (Deut. 7:6, 14:2, 1 Kings 8:16, 1 Chron. 16:13, Ps. 105:6, 132:13, Is. 10:20-22, 11:11, 16, 28:5, Zech. 8, Zeph. 3, Micah 7:14-28). There will be many gentiles saved through His working with the remnant (Zech. 8:20-23, Zeph. 3:20, Rev. 7:9-17). Lastly will come the Second Coming (Is. 9:6, 7, Is. 11) followed by Armageddon (Is. 13:2-13, Rev. 6, 16:16, 19, Acts 2:19-21).
Believers up to the Rapture, including Jews and Gentiles, will be raptured and gone. Therefore, one needs to ask, who will be here as believing stewards during the tribulation? Another question to ask is what are the historical events developing today before the Rapture? Who then goes into the punitive punishment coming after the Rapture?
Events setting the stage do not seem to happen immediately after the Rapture. All the proceedings that need to be in place during the seven years are not yet fully developed. There seem to be specific events that need to be in place by the time of the prophesied Tribulation Period. This transition of the tribulation has not yet occurred, especially since all believers today, both believing Jew and Gentile, are yet to be “Raptured.”
On pg. 327
These various views pertain to the Seventieth Week of Daniel 9 that describes a period in history where refining takes place and the rejection of the truth of Jesus Christ takes place. They disagree on the timing of the Rapture and Tribulation.
On pg. 327
This view teaches that immediately after the Rapture the tribulation period begins along with the seven-year transition. Theologians seem to be right in their understanding that the tribulation is a period of seven-years. However, there is no absolute in God’s Word that says the seven-years are to be immediately after the Rapture. The Rapture could happen at any time, starting the transition with year’s in-between concluding with the seven years of the tribulation.
There is no reason there cannot be more years to set up the Nation of Israel before the seven years. There is speculation or presuppositions but no absolutes. Maybe the seven-years of the Tribulation period will happen immediately after the Rapture or years later.
The seventieth week of Daniel did not occur right after our Lord’s ascension to heaven (Acts 1) nor did it happen right after Israel rejected their stewardship (Acts 7). This 70th week was supposed to be right after Israel rejected the New Covenant (Acts 2). Prophetically the 69th-week of Daniel was Christ Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension to heaven (Acts 1) and then the 70th week is the tribulation transition into the Kingdom dispensation.
The seven-year tribulation is meant to bring the Dispensation of the Kingdom into existence (Acts 2:14-39). Remember, it is the Sovereign plan of God, and just because we may not understand, the timing does not mean it will not be delayed or immediate.
Some theologians say, because chapters two and three of Revelation speak to seven churches, they are the churches here on earth today. This view, tries to connect the passages to today’s Dispensation, basing it on the translation of the word church (called out assembly). With this connection, Theologians teach that after the third chapter events the author turns his writings to heaven. This assumes that the Rapture happens between chapters three and four. This view is presumption chapters 2-4 in Revelation.
Within the following passage in Revelation, Jesus Christ is referring back to the churches who had to endure or overcome. The seven churches are mentioned again after the transition tribulation events of Rev. 22:12-16. The promises mentioned do not coincide with today's Church. Yes, the Church today does endure hard times but not to be "saved." Believers do not endure to enter the Eternal Kingdom Dispensation as those going through the tribulation transition will (Rom. 5:15-18, 6:23, Jn. 3:16, Eph. 2:8-9, 2 Cor. 9:15, Matt. 10:22, 24:3-14). The Bible in Matthew 24:13, and Mark 13:13 uses the words "endure" (ὑπομείνας) and "overcomes" (νικῶντι) that are used in Revelation 2:7, 2:11, 2:17, 3:5, 3:12, and 3:21.
It would be a good idea to read chapter one and pay attention to verse one and ten of Revelation. When examining the prophecy that John says he received and where and when the events are to happen, he says, "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day," meaning that in the prophecy he is about to write down events after the Rapture.
The Day of the Lord (Lord's Day) refers to the Lord Jesus' reign here literally on the earth. Examining the book of Revelation and the first chapter seems to describe the event leading and the ending of our Lord dealing with Israel as stewards and the world's punitive judgment.
However, this pre-tribulation view of chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation is merely a presupposition and not an absolute. Maybe the first three chapters speak of the tribulation period of the called-out believers living then, and it does not refer to the time before the Rapture. The events in chapter four do not speak of the Rapture as already occurring, so we are putting the Rapture in here in a speculative way. Chapters one through three has a Jewish flavor and refer to a called-out assembly (church) of the tribulation period. The word identified "church" is not the Church called His Body that is today's Church in the Dispensation of Grace (Eph. 1:22-23, 2:16-17, Col. 1:18, Rom. 16:25-27). However, as said earlier, the churches of Revelation are mentioned as part of the whole tribulation period when reference is made to them and identified later in the book (Rev. 22:12-16).
Revelation 22:16: “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright, and Morning Star.”
However, the Revelation passages reveal the time in the history of transition. The time of events brings about the Dispensation of the Kingdom. This event describes the events throughout the period we have been discussing that were prophesied. The first three chapters of Revelation refer to a time after the Rapture. They are not referring to the Body of Christ of today’s Dispensation.
Revelation describes a “called out group of people,” leading into, or already in, the events of the tribulation period. The Greek word "τῆς ἐκκλησίας," means “an assembly,” and refers to the church of God’s believers. However, going through these passages, we see they refer to overcoming the event that follows. When making this connection the overcomers and their faithfulness going into the Dispensation of the Kingdom will either be in their natural bodies or resurrected bodies. Those believers killed who endured will be resurrected at the first resurrection’s prophesied time going into the Dispensation of the Kingdom (Rev. 20:4-6).
However, universal truths of behavior do apply to human nature even though the proceeding is a reference to the tribulation period. These truths are a barometer for faithful Christians living today in times that are hard and are for believers to make sure they are aware of errors (Matt. 13:1-52, 24:1-50, Rev. 1 to 3).
2 Timothy 3:16: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,”
On pg. 330
This view believes the Rapture is the same as the Lord coming in His second appearance on earth. They presume that when Christ comes the second time to earth; He first raises believers as described (1 Thess. 4:13-18) and changes their bodies into their transformed essence (body resurrected and united with their spirit). Then Christ Jesus brings them down immediately with Himself during The Battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16). This again is a presumptuous view.
The problem with this view is the two resurrections. The Word of God says the first resurrection is of those believers martyred in the tribulation. Their view puts a resurrection before the first resurrection when trying to lump Christ coming with His saints and the first resurrection later after the Battle of Armageddon (Rev. 20:4-6).
The Rapture resurrection is part of the Mystery Dispensation, where all believers experience their resurrection to this point before the tribulation. In trying to lump the Rapture with the coming with Christ, there would be no one to resurrect for the first resurrection. All those who died were those who died before in the tribulation that ended, and then Christ returns to earth. The Mystery Dispensation is not a prophesied program, and neither is its ending. The Lord’s literal return is not a mystery, but the Rapture is a mystery.
The first prophesied resurrection will be after His earthly return. It is prophesied in the book of Revelation. The first prophesied resurrection will be of those who are from the end of transitional tribulation, not the mystery Rapture (Rev. 20:4-6). The Seven Years of Tribulation is a prophesied program occurring during the transition to the next dispensation (Daniel’s seventy weeks). Compare the following two passages, and one will understand that they are not the same event.
The mystery resurrection and the Mystery Rapture:
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18: “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words" (1 Cor. 2:6-16, 15:51).
The First prophesied Resurrection is in Revelation:
Revelation 20:4-6: “And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the Word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. Moreover, they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. “This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”
The next resurrection after the prophesied one includes other believers resurrected who will die in the Millennial Reign of Christ. They are, resurrected at some point, though the exact time is not given in Scripture.
Therefore, there are three resurrections at different times, the mystery resurrection, the Rapture (of all believers from all previous dispensations, 2 Thess. 4:13-18), After the Rapture the one called the first resurrection (of the martyred from the tribulation, Rev. 20:4-5), and the second resurrection (the Millennial resurrection, believers, Psalms 1 and nonbelievers, Revelation 20:5, 11-15).
The Post-Tribulation view teaches that believers from the Dispensation of Grace will go through the seven-year tribulation period. This view contradicts God’s Word, relating to believers, who will not go through the wrath of this period but will instead look to the hope assured them by Grace (1 Thess. 1:10).
The Post-Tribulation view appeals to a scare tactic and logically tries to destroy the plain Biblical teaching of the Rapture. This logic and tactic have a wrong Biblical basis of education, teaching that believers are subject to the Irreversible Punitive Judgment wrath of the tribulation.
The judgment is for those left behind from the Rapture. The nonbelievers that rejected the Gospel message in the Dispensation of Grace will be left behind and will go into the wrath of the transitional tribulation period in Revelation (Col. 3:1-7, Eph. 5:5, 6, 1 Thess. 5:9, 4:13-18, 2 Thess. 2:16, Tit. 2:13, 3:7).
Reiterating from the earlier explanation of the tribulation time is the Irreversible Punitive Judgment of today's nonbelievers. Also, remember after the Rapture is the beginning transition of the prophesied time of the tribulation. This period deals with the refining of the true remnant of the faithful Jewish Nation and ends with the prophesied Irreversible Punitive Judgment’s completion. Completion of the former Dispensations takes place before the Dispensation of the Kingdom taking full control with Christ Jesus coming. His coming will be in The Battle of Armageddon. This battle is the finality of the Irreversible Punitive Judgment for all the unsaved to that point in history.
The post-tribulation view basis is from the history of believers going through tribulation in the past. Yes, believers have gone through trials of tribulation (Heb. 10:33). However, they have been spared from the Irreversible Punitive Judgments of God’s wrath. Their destiny is eternal life in heaven as God desires for all, but not everyone will avail themselves of God’s provision in God the Son and His redemptive works (Jn. 1:12).
Believers have gone through chastisement tribulations. All kinds of affliction and chastisement are corrections working for good in God’s plan (Rom. 5:3, 8:28-39, Jas. 1:2-4, 1 Pet. 1:1-9). However, God brings them through, he never lets them be lost or condemned (Jn. 10).
2 Timothy 3:13: “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.”
John 10:28-30: Jesus said, “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.”
John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Romans 8:1, 37-39: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” and “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
1 John 5:13: “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”
The irreversible judgment for nonbelievers is death no matter what tragedy brought it about. They all become part of the Eternal Judgment of the Eternal Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:11-15).
Also, believers were spared from or through other Irreversible Punitive Judgments in each Dispensation. Study the next chapter on the Irreversible Punitive Judgments from God for each Dispensation. One will see how the grace of God and His mercy has faithfully preserved faithful believers in different ways from the Irreversible Punitive Judgments of His wrath in other Dispensations.
When we study the Irreversible Punitive Judgment, we conclude that just as God spared past believers, they are also spared in the Dispensation of Grace. The Rapture spares transformed believers. They experience their transformation into the glorified bodies of their hope. We will be in heaven, taken by Christ Jesus at the Rapture (Jn. 17, 1 Thess. 4:18). Knowing this should motivate believers today to live faithfully and never compromise or give into the devil’s false teachings or to internal fleshly temptations of defeat (Rom. 6).
Likewise, the Post-Tribulation view tries to put the Roman Catholic Church within the development of Revelation. They view that the fulfilled development of the Roman Church, and events surrounding it, are in the Book of Revelation.
The Post-Tribulation view spiritualizes’ prophetic fulfillment. They may be accurate in relationship to the spirit of antichrist. The development and the spirit of antichrist may lay with the Roman Catholic Church. However, the literal fulfillment is in the future events described in Revelation. The Antichrist is still to come in a person, who is Antichrist (Rev. 13). His revelation is yet to come.
The spirit of antichrist already existed in the days of the writing of Scripture, so it is no wonder that some religions through history have taught this truth mistakenly (1 Jn. 2:18, 22, 2:22, 4:3, 2 Jn. 1:7). This event is still developing today, but the actual person appears after the Rapture.
The Post-Tribulation view exposes many of the evils of the spirit of antichrist. Believers can learn and be aware of the dangers and falsehood of this evil spirit. God’s Word does not explicitly reveal who the Antichrist is by name, but speaks instead of his evil and untruthfully corrupt teachings (1 Jn. 4:3, 2 Jn. 1:7, Rev. 13:1-18, 16:13, 19:20).
The Dispensation of the Kingdom where Christ (Messiah) Jesus (Savior) our LORD (God incarnate) reigns on the throne of David, will include people in their physical bodies (Rev. 20, Is. 65). However, a problem in the Post-Tribulation view needs examining.
If the Rapture occurs at the end of the seven-year tribulation with all believers raptured, who will be left? Also, if nonbelievers do not go into the Kingdom, who is left to repopulate the earth? Nonbelievers will punitively be judged with death in the final conflict of the transitional tribulation period at The Battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16:16, Is. 13:9-13). Who will then have their earthly bodies to repopulate the Millennial Kingdom? Who is left? Nonbelievers will all be condemned and sent to Hell at The Battle of Armageddon. Believers will be in their glorified bodies. The post-tribulation view thus has serious flaws.
During the time of Christ’s rule, here on earth, there will be both saved and nonbelievers present. At the end of the thousand years, there will be a final battle with humans in their physical bodies, which will end the Dispensation of the Kingdom. This event is the Battle of Gog and Magog (Rev. 20:8). Both The Battle of Armageddon and The Battle of Gog and Magog come at the end and are Irreversible Punitive Judgments of two different Dispensations with a period of a thousand years between (Rev. 19 to 20).
The Word of God says there will be those who will endure through the transition. They will go into the Kingdom of Christ. They will enter the Dispensation of the Kingdom, after The Battle of Armageddon. They will reproduce in the Dispensation of the Earthly Kingdom. Some of their children will become believers while others will reject Christ Jesus and His rulership during the Millennial Reign of Messiah Jesus. They will follow Satan in the battle called Gog and Magog (Rev. 20:8).
Revelation says that at His second coming, only the martyrs, who did not receive the mark of the beast and who were subsequently beheaded, will be resurrected and given their glorified bodies going into the full operation of the Dispensation of the Kingdom (Rev. 20). The Old Testament saints and those in the Dispensation of Grace will be resurrected in the Rapture at least seven years before the 1,000 years (1 Thess. 4:13-18). The new glorified body will not reproduce children.
Therefore, the Rapture is going to happen before the Tribulation, ending the Dispensation of Grace. Then God will continue with His dealings with Israel in the transition tribulation and eventually things will be completed with the earthly Kingdom of Christ and His rule.
The Post tribulation view does not do justice to the last two thousand years of the church age under the Dispensation of Grace. Today’s Dispensation was a mystery and not prophesied. One needs to look further into a Dispensational view of Scripture for proper understanding.
Studying this book gives an understanding of the Dispensations used in God’s plan. The Seven Guiding Operational doctrines of a Dispensation would be a great help in understanding Revelation. With that said, one can discover a lot in the Post-Tribulation view.
Much of the spirit of antichrist relating to religion is present. Dispensational teaching today helps us not to fall into the evil spirit of Satan. Always keep in mind God says no man knows the time of His return. The Word of God says it is a mystery hid from humanity, and only in the plan of God the Father, will it come to fruition. Believers today need to be busy fulfilling their stewardship commands from God (2 Cor. 5:17-21).
On pg. 338
Those who espouse this view hold the same view as other dispensationalists in that the tribulation is Daniel’s 70th week and that it is seven years long. They hold that the seven years contain within them two parts of 3 1/2 years. They believe that the first three chapters of Revelation are part of the church age, which is the same, as some pre-tribulationists believe.
Their view emphasizes 2 Thessalonians 2:6-10 whereby, equating the dispensation of today as being here on earth right up to The Great Tribulation. The Rapture occurs at the point of the final three and a half years of the tribulation beginning the wrath portion. Their view is that all the book of Revelation is about the tribulation period with the Rapture in the middle and before the millennial Reign of Christ going into 1,000 year r reign.
They do not believe as the pre-tribulationists do that the Rapture happens between chapter three and chapter four of Revelation. In addition, it does not occur to them that there could be several-years’ after the Rapture before the seven-year tribulation begins.
The Mid-Tribulation view believes that today’s Dispensation goes beyond chapter four. From chapter one to chapter thirteen of Revelation, this view splits-up the seven-year tribulation. The Rapture is in the middle of the seven-year tribulation, the time preceding when “the lawless one, will be revealed” (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7). The Mid-Tribulation view refers and emphasizes the Thessalonians passage that states that “he the lawless,” one will be revealed right after the Rapture in the middle of the tribulation.
Additionally, this position holds that the Holy Spirit will be “taken out of the way” (2 Thess. 2:6-7). They believe the Holy Spirit will be left in the first half of the tribulation and in the second half of the tribulation gone because of all the evil and chaos present. They believe the Holy Spirit is now restraining the lawless one, “He will be taken out of the way,” in the Rapture and the last of the three and a half years of God’s wrath will then occur. The “he” is the Holy Spirit, not the Body of Christ, according to them.
However, their view is wrong; the Holy Spirit continues His works after the Rapture here on earth. Will the Holy Spirit be working in the tribulation and The Great Tribulation? The answer to that question is yes; the New Covenant does not quit.
Therefore, the restraining force is the Body of Christ, and the Holy Spirit continues His work. He will work through the whole tribulation after the Rapture. The Holy Spirit will still indwell those who receive Jesus Christ as Lord because the indwelling is integral to the New Covenant, “once and for all” completion by our LORD Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 2:6-10: “and now you know what (that which) is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He (one) who now restrains will do so until He (neuter, the Body of Christ) is taken out of the way. Then the lawless one will be, revealed whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”
The above parentheses with “that which” and “one” represent the Greek equivalences. Translators put the capital “H” for “he” in there, but it is not in the original language. The “One” in the original Greek is the Body of Christ that the Holy Spirit indwells. The Holy Spirit continues to work as an integral component of the “New Covenant.”
Problems of the Mid-Tribulation View:
The Word of God says there will be those who endure refusing the mark of the beast through the transition of the refining time of Israel. They will go into the Kingdom of Christ. They enter the Dispensation of the Kingdom, after The Battle of Armageddon. Neither view has enough time or existence of humans for repopulation.
Revelation says that at His second coming, only the martyrs, who did not receive the mark of the beast will be resurrected and given their glorified bodies going into the full operation of the Dispensation of the Kingdom (Rev. 20). The Old Testament saints and those in the Dispensation of Grace will be resurrected in the Rapture (1 Thess. 4:13-18). Their view would have to include the martyrs who died in the first half of the tribulation who were raised in the Rapture. Then the first Resurrection only includes those who died by martyrdom in the second half of the tribulation in the three-and-a-half years.
Question, how many who did not die going into the millennial reign then are able to reproduce? The non-believers were destroyed in the battle of Armageddon, and a shortage of believers to repopulate in the millennial period are missing if the Rapture happened in the beginning of the last three and a half years of the Tribulation period. So the Mid-Trib. and the Post-Trib. have problems with their interpretation of events (Note: the Post-Trib. have even a worse hermeneutic).
Remember, those who come back with Christ Jesus and those raised in the first resurrection will be in their glorified body and will not reproduce children (Rev. 19:14).
If their view were valid, then in the wrath period (the last three-and-a-half years) there would have to be a group of humans who receive our Lord and who escape the experience of martyrdom in the wrath of God in the last three-and-a-half years. Remember this view postulates that the Holy Spirit is gone. Like the post-tribulation view, this mid-tribulation view has preconceived ideas that are presumptions, and lack the time, needed for the fulfillment of events with the missing Holy Spirit.
Therefore, the pre-tribulation view comes the closest to being Scriptural. Both, pre-tribulation positions have merit. The tribulation starts either immediately after the Rapture or after a time-period before the seven-year tribulation.
Do today’s Dispensation events overlap the first half of the seven-year tribulation? Is there a “time-period” right after the Rapture that is followed by the final seven years of Revelation? When trying not to set up a presupposition, does one set one up? Remember, if one says the Rapture is at a particular time, they are saying they know when it occurs. When you are studying these events, and try to synchronize them, you need to go along with not knowing the time and the season that only the heavenly Father does. Therefore, the Rapture remains a mystery, and it can happen at any time. The fact is, the Apostle Paul revealed the truth about the Rapture, and maybe we need to keep it within the Mystery Dispensation.
All views have the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ coming back to the earth to reign. They all agree there is a thousand-year millennial reign and it will take place after the Rapture. The Dispensation of the Kingdom is also upheld by each view along with the fact that there will be a battle called The Battle of Armageddon. Additionally, all of the assessments teach the Rapture of Scripture (1 Thess. 4:13-18). However, they all see in the teaching of Scripture different times that lead into the Kingdom Dispensation and subsequently different times for when the current one will end as well.
Having stated the prophesied transition period as being after the Rapture, all the views of future prophecy have some interesting points. However, many fall into spiritualizing the event. They spiritualize it in order to agree with preconceived theological stances that are held by some colleges and seminaries. No matter what view one studies, one must always present the facts of the Gospel. There is a transition with each view, even though they may not call the events a transition. All the events of the Dispensation of the Kingdom are indicative of a schematic of a transitional period.
With that said, I want to reiterate that we believers of today should not get hung up on things concerning prophecy. Rather we must preach the Eternal Gospel and live-out the mandate of a stewardship (2 Cor. 5:17-21).
As stated before, certain historical events in Israel’s development could or will occur before or after the Rapture. Some seemingly have occurred, yet some are still to come from the time of this book being written. First, we know the sixty-ninth week of the prophetic writing of Daniel is complete. We know the seventieth week is a refining and punitive time (called the seven-years of tribulation and the transition to the Kingdom Dispensation). We also know that there have been over 2,021 years since the 69th-week. When will the last week, the 70th-week of Daniel, occur?
The Irreversible Punitive Judgment will come after the Rapture and conclude with Jesus Christ coming literally to earth at His second coming.
The Rapture goes along with the Mystery Dispensation and could happen at any time (1 Cor. 15:51-52, 1 Thess. 4:15-18). The timing of the second coming of the Lord to the world to rule is only known by God the Father through His foreknowledge. The Word of God says that no human knows the timing of these things, only God the Father does (Matt. 24:36, Mk. 13:32, Acts 1:9-11, Is. 9:7-21, Rev. 19:11-21).
God’s Word says His return will be during The Battle of Armageddon. There could be many more years than seven between the two events of the Rapture and this battle. This is because God does not give an absolute for the time right after the Rapture and the literal prophesied second coming in His Word. The three dominant views of the transition-tribulation received explanation earlier. These were the post-tribulation, Mid-tribulation, and Pre-tribulation view respectively. Common knowledge states that when the literal coming to earth of Christ takes place, it will end the transition and tribulation.
Believers always need to be fulfilling their stewardship responsibilities. They must not cry to God "please come down and get me out of here because things are so bad." Rather may we do our duty! In His sovereign plan, God has called us in our fallen state to live, and He will help us fulfill our responsibility.
Our eternal life started at our transformation the day we received the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. God will continue to fulfill our destiny for this life until physical death or the Rapture (Ps. 37:18, 39:5, 90:12, Lu. 12:13-21). Therefore, we are to make the most out of it in appreciation to Him for fulfilling our preordained ambassadorship. Only on this earth in our fallen, depraved-state, does He use us to win others to Him. God promises rewards for faithfulness in their regard.
Colossians 3:24: “knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ”
See also: 1 Corinthians 3:8, 14, 9:24-25, 1 Thessalonians 2:19, 2 Timothy 4:8, Hebrews 10:35, 11:6, Revelation 2:16, 11, 18, 22:12, Mathew 5:12, 46, 6:6 16, 10:41-42, and Luke 6:35.
Yes, believers today are waiting for their eternal home. Nevertheless, we need to be fulfilling our present-day responsibility (2 Cor. 5:17-23). Our lack of service right now seems to go along with the lukewarm apostasy of the Revelation tribulation church of the Laodiceans.
Individuals that are self-centered and compromising are bringing about the failure of today’s Dispensation. Believers need to repent and seek God’s mandate. The mandate of our stewardship responsibility is that we express the truths of God’s Word outwardly.
We must engage in unquestionably living practices according to God’s righteousness and holiness. We must repent and seek victory in all that we do (1 Jn. 1:9 - 2:3)!
The indwelling Holy Spirit means that every believer has a special gift. God empowers each of us after salvation. Therefore, use the gift God has given you today before the Rapture or death and before your opportunity to use the gift is gone (Rom. 12, 1 Cor. 12, Eph. 4).
True Christians need to be ready at all times, but they must also not be preoccupied and anxious to “get out of here” because of difficult circumstances. Believers have an eternal responsibility. Fulfilling that responsibility means living transformed life now as stewards of God. We have been given the message of reconciliation; let us then be righteous, just, and holy, as we live before the non-believers of humanity. May the objects of God’s wrath can see Christ in us!
The Gospel message of believers needs to give others a positive hope about God’s redemptive plan of salvation (2 Cor. 5:17-21). God’s wonderful message includes the following:
The question one should ask themselves is: how many sins have I committed? How many have been committed this year? God says not loving Him or others is sin, how many more can you count that you have committed? Now multiply them by your age! The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only answer and hope for sinners (Rom. 5, I Jn. 5:9-14).
However, God does not force anyone to be saved. It does not matter what sex, color, or nationality they are. Every individual has to accept His sacrifice for reconciliation personally. His pardon is waiting for you, He paid it, may you accept it! He is offering you the forgiveness of all your past, present and future sins (Rom. 1:16, Ps. 103). There is no sin His payment cannot handle. You have right now the opportunity to receive His pardon (Rom. 10:13).
Additionally, we have the potential not to sin as spiritual growth occurs even though we fail many times. The Holy Spirit gives power over our sinful state as we grow in Christ Jesus the Lord (Romans 6). Today God gives Himself to us, living in believers, by the Holy Spirit directing believers into truth and victory over sin.
He sealed us unto Himself at salvation (Eph. 1:13-14, Gal. 5:13-26). He desires that we do not sin, but if we do, we have Jesus Christ as an advocate to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 Jn. 2:1-2). Sins of the believers have consequences, but not the Punitive Eternal Punishment. Let us experience the fellowship He desires, and be the real transformed believers that we are!
God is a loving father who chastises and corrects his own children through a different form of disciplinary action (Heb. 12:6). This book does not give all God’s desires entirely for one, and that is why one needs to read the Bible to understand His desire for His children. God’s plans for His children’s life is to attend a good Bible preaching church for correction, encouragement and service to others.
Attending church does not save one but is for the sanctification of believers (Heb. 10:24-25). Church helps us to learn how to be holy, living righteous and just, as examples to all. This includes to our brothers and sisters in Christ, along with the unsaved we come across in our lives daily (Gal. 6:10). Remember, local churches are not full of or for perfect people. We are all sinners who repent.The Gospel (His death, burial, and resurrection) is what an individual must accept and when an individual accepts the truth of their defilement personally, salvation is good news (the Gospel). One does not have to remain in evil depravity. Receiving God, the LORD Jesus Christ, and the provision made for reconciliation, and forgiveness, gives Him ownership of your existence for eternity (1 Cor. 15).
This transformation is complete when, by faith, you receives it for yourself for it is the substance of the truth God has given (Jn. 1:12, Rom. 10:9-13, 1 Jn. 5:9-14, Hebrews 11:1). What does it mean to receive Him as yours? It means to believe in him, and the provision he made, and to abandon trying to do things on your own terms (Tit. 3:3-5).
A leopard cannot change its spots (Jer. 13:22-23). The only way that can happen is if God would do it for them. When He speaks to your inner self, some call it ones conscious or heart, you are to respond to Him. He illuminates one to know the way, and upon believing, one will see the truth of His love, and all he has done for you that will change you (Heb. 3:7, 15, 4:7, 1 Jn. 5:13).
Nothing is more significant than knowing forgiveness. Belonging to Him as His transformed child, adopted into an eternal relationship and experiencing transformation gives one a sense of peace. You can then live in appreciation for His Love (Eph. 1:5, Jn. 1:12, 1 Cor. 6:20). You are His, and are a beloved adopted child of His eternal gentle kindness (Eph. 1:13)!
Do not let yourself be reasoned out of the truth of God. Rather, yield yourself to the fact that the Holy Spirit is speaking to your heart because God loves you and wants you to be saved (1 Cor. 1:18-21, 1 Tim. 2:4).
Hebrews 10:25: “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Hebrews 13:5: “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
So we may boldly say; “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
On pg. 352
The beginning events of this transition take place at the end of the sixth Dispensation leading into the Eternal Kingdom. Satan will be released from the Bottomless Pit and he will unite the nonbelievers of the Millennial Dispensation.
This will be near the end of the thousand-year Dispensation (The Dispensation of the earthly Kingdom). After Satan’s release, the Battle of Gog and Magog will take place. The Lord Jesus Christ will defeat Satan and his followers. These last transitional events end with the completion of the Great White Throne Judgment and execution of those raised from hell. This includes all those who followed Satan and who died in the Battle of Gog and Magog. All unregenerate humans are in Hell after the battle (Rev. 20:7-21).
These events will start the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time taking full operating control within the New Heaven and New Earth. This will possibly be the time of the last transformation and resurrection of the millennial saints (Revelation 20:5). They will receive their spiritual body and spirit transformation. This could also occur during the creation of the New Heaven and New Earth.
The events of the transition at the end of the thousand-years are the result of the dovetailing of two actions with multiple events (Rev. 20:7-10). One is the ending of our Lord’s long-suffering and the other is the many born during the thousand-year reign of Christ who are not saved. Isaiah 65:20 reveals that there will be those who are evil and who will not turn from their wicked ways.
First, this chapter says that at a hundred years, a person, if they do not turn from their evil, would experience death. Judgment indicates that some may turn. However, others will not turn to Christ. Many will actually not be saved, so that they will follow Satan in the final battle against Christ and His people. This passage gives credence to the prophecy of the human failure of the Fifth Operating Principle of a Dispensation.
Second, with Satan's release from his prison of the bottomless pit, the last earthly battle occurs (Rev. 20:7-8). Upon release, he goes out, and deceives the non-believers of the populace throughout the world. He convinces those who did not receive Christ, to follow him into battle to defeat Christ. Satan strategically then attacks Jerusalem where Christ sits.
The third event is the transitional event, which is an actual battle with Satan. Satan's followers move against the Lord Jesus Christ at the battle called Gog and Magog. This battle seems to be over very quickly. Revelation 20:9-10 says, "And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.” The devil, who deceived all, will be cast into the Lake of Fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet will also remain, and they will punitively be tormented day and night forever and ever. This battle brings an ending to the works of Satan forever. He will never cause his devilish behavior and deeds again. His existence will be forever in the Lake of Fire. Many expound that the earlier Battle of Armageddon is the last battle, but Scripture teaches that The Battle of Gog and Magog is the very last one, and that there are a thousand years between the two (Rev. 16:16 cf. 20:8).
The fourth event is the transitional judgment from God that, according to Revelation, will include all the nonbelievers from all the Dispensations. Their "grave bodies" and their "spiritual bodies" will be united for the eternal judgment at the Great White Throne (Rev. 20:11-15, Jn. 5:26-30).
Understand that the nonbeliever's spirits are already in hell. These verses inform us that there is a resurrection of nonbelievers. From where are they resurrected? Because of the place where they will be gathered from, they will be collected from the grave and hell. As Revelation 20:13 states "The sea gave up the dead (yes their bodies) who were in it, and Death, (grave bodies), and Hades, (hell where the unsaved spirits wait for this judgment) delivered up the dead who were in them."
God opens the books of all the nonbelievers to judge them according to what the recorded books say in them. One unique book is called the Book of Life. If their names do not appear, their eternal doom is pronounced. Their names are not in the Book of Life. Their eternal destruction will be in the Lake of Fire along with Satan, evil angels (demons), and the wicked leaders of his workings.
This is called the second death (Rev. 20:14). For the one who rejects God’s plan, their name will be recorded for judgement (Rom. 3). These books expose sins openly at this judgment for all to see. God’s justice will be completed for the evil committed. All sinners and sin will be visible, and the individuals will be found guilty.
The fifth event will be the creation of the New Heaven and New Earth while the old earth is thrown into the Lake of Fire (Rev. 21-22). The Lake of Fire is somewhere in the universe, Scripture does not say exactly where it is. The core of this earth is hell, and where the nonbelievers are now waiting for the Great White Throne Judgment to be cast into the eternal Lake of Fire (Num. 16:33-34, Lk. 16:19-31, Eph. 4:7-10, Prov. 5:5, Ez. 31:14-17, 32:21, 27-31, 2 Pet. 2:4).
The sixth event will be the anticipated marriage feast of the Lamb. This marriage is the uniting of all believers at the marriage feast of the Lamb with the bridegroom, our Lord Jesus Christ (Rev. 19:1-10, 21).
The New Heaven and New Earth will unite the Bride and Groom in the Eternal Covenant (Rev. 21-22). The Eternal Covenant of the redeemed, the New Heaven, New Earth, with New Jerusalem, God’s Holy City, will be fulfilled with the Bride of the Lamb’s marriage. The Bride is not exclusive to the Dispensation of Grace. The Church called His Body is part of the collective family of God. Very clearly the Word of God states that the holy city Jerusalem from above is the mother of all the redeemed (Gal. 4:26). It is the very City of God (Ps. 46:4, 48:1, 8, Heb. 12:22, Rev. 3:12, 21:2, 10, 23, 22:19).
All the inhabitants will be those who have been redeemed, and transformed by the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The marriage feast of the Lamb is when heaven and earth become one under the Godhead. It is when all redeemed believers will be united together with the Lamb. They will celebrate the eternal state and there will be great joy (Rev. 22:16-17, Matt. 22:1-14, 25:10).
The New Jerusalem is described as being filled with the saints of all the Dispensations. It will be adorned as the Bride of Christ (Rev. 21:2, 9-10). The Bride of Christ is the Holy City coming down from heaven to unite with humanity on the New Earth (Rev. 21:10-11). God will join with humans in the marriage of the New Jerusalem and the New Earth.
The New Jerusalem is the Tabernacle of God (Rev. 15:5, 21:3, Is. 4:6, 16:5, 33:20, Amos 9:11, Acts 15:16, Heb. 8:2, Psalm 15:1, 43:3, 46:4, 61:4). With this consummated marriage, there will be no more death, sorrow, crying or pain. God will wipe away all negative tears (Rev. 21:4-5).
In the seventh event, which is last of the sixth transitions. Christ Jesus, the Son, will unite with God the Father. The Godhead will show the completion of all things through its order of deity and leadership. These events will take place at the end of the sixth transition. The Dispensation of the Fullness of Time, also called the Kingdom of God will take eternal operational authority with the Seventh Major Dispensation.
This Seventh Major Dispensation, the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time, will not fail. The last Dispensation does not have an ending transition since it does not fail. The redemptive plan of God will be successful and fully completed with the onset of this Dispensation. It will take place at the end of the earthly Kingdom Dispensation.
The next Dispensation, the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time, goes on for eternity. The first Dispensation would have been eternal if humanity had passed the test in the Garden of Eden by refusing to listen to Satan.
Looking at the whole of Scripture including God’s working in redemption and His entire plan, one cannot ignore the contribution of Dispensational structure. When incorporating all the events from the beginning of time as transitional, one could state that God has had a transition from creation moving the eternal plan to completion. However, neglecting the Seven Dispensations and the Operating Dispensational Keys does not mean they do not exist.
God used Dispensations to complete His plan through history. Dispensations expose fallen humanity. They show the bringing to completion of God’s redemption plan. There are Seven Major Dispensations in His Sovereign, eternal layout. These Major Dispensations have Seven Operating Keys define and identify them.
The next chapter will cover the last of the Seven Operational Keys, The Irreversible Punitive Judgments. They will teach us about humanity’s continuous failure.
On pg. 356
A Transition is the sixth of the system’s Seven Fundamental Keys rules. They move Dispensations from the old to the new Dispensation. This process starts because of failure. Six Transitions connect the Seven Major Dispensations of Scripture. The first six Dispensations have a transition at the end overlapping into the new Dispensation. The transition event begins the new Dispensation operation. As the old Dispensation decreases, the new Dispensation increases.
The last Dispensation does not have an ending transition, for it never fails, it is eternal. The Seventh Dispensation is the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time. The First Dispensation does not have a transition at its beginning (The Dispensation of Innocence). There is no Dispensation before creation since time did not exist before creation, only eternity. God created out of nothing. The Sixth Major Dispensations has a Transition at the beginning, but the Dispensation of the Fullness of time never fails, so there is no ending transition.
The following are the Transitions of Scripture regarding the Major Dispensations:
In the first Dispensation, innocence was present at creation. There was no transition at the beginning (Gen. 1:1). The Dispensation of Innocence has only an ending transition to moves it to the second Dispensation.
The second is the Dispensation of Conscience and has both a beginning and an ending transition that moves it to the third Dispensation.
The third dispensation, the Dispensation of Human Government, has both a beginning and an ending transition that moves it to the fourth Dispensation.
The fourth dispensation, the Dispensation of Promise, has both a beginning and an ending transition that moves it to the fifth Dispensation.
The fifth dispensation, the Dispensation of Grace, has both a beginning and an ending transition that moves it to the sixth Dispensation.
The sixth dispensation, the Dispensation of the Kingdom has both a beginning and an ending transition that moves it to the Seventh Major Dispensation.
The last dispensation, the seventh, the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time has one transition at the beginning and none at the end for it “never” fails.
Today, we believers should not be hung up on things of prophecy. Rather we must preach the Eternal Gospel and live as we are mandated to as stewards (2 Cor. 5:17-21). The believer’s eternal responsibility starts at our salvation. Our opportunity and time of accountability will only be on this earth. We can only completely fulfill our stewardship mandate in this life. Therefore, instead of trying to get out of here and escape our responsibility, we need to embrace it, even if that means accepting persecution and pain. Humanity needs us to be living for the glory of God. We know that after death and the Rapture we will not be able to glorify God in the same way. Therefore, we must fulfill our stewardship calling today.
Believers always need to be doing and fulfilling their stewardship responsibilities. They must not be crying to God "please come down and get me out of here because things are so bad.” Rather they must do their duty. In His sovereign plan, God has called us in our fallen state to live, and He will help us fulfill our responsibility. Our eternal life started at our transformation the day we received the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. God will continue to fulfill our destiny for this life until physical death or the Rapture. Therefore, make the most out of it in appreciation to Him! Only on this earth in our fallen state will He use us to win others to Him. God promises rewards for such faithfulness.
Yes, believers today are waiting for their eternal home. Nevertheless, we need to be fulfilling our present-day responsibility (2 Cor. 5:17-23). The lack of service right now seems to go along with the lukewarm apostasy of the Revelation tribulation church of the Laodiceans. Individuals are self-centered and in turn bringing the failure of today’s Dispensation to pass, believers need to repent and seek God’s mandate. The mandate of our stewardship responsibility means we must express the truths of God’s Word outwardly. We must unquestionably live according to God’s righteousness and holiness. We are to repent and seek victory in all that we do (1 Jn. 1:9 to 2:3). The indwelling Holy Spirit gives every believer a special gift. God uses this to empower us after salvation. Therefore, use the gift God has given you today before the Rapture or death. Use it before your opportunity is gone!
True Christians need to be ready at all times for Jesus’ return. However, we are not to be unduly preoccupied and anxious to get out of here because of difficult circumstances. Believers have an eternal responsibility to fulfill in life. Responsible immovable living, the stewards of a transformed. We are to have the message of reconciliation on our lips. We are to give warning to the nonbelievers so that when their punitive judgment transpires they have no excuse for not accepting the Gospel message (2 Cor. 5:12-21, Ez. 33). .
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On pg. 360
Chapter 11
Chapters Forward / Goals - Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12.
This is the end and from there, there will be no return. These final judgments are more than disciplinary actions. They are final, permanent, and punitive responses from God that bring about the last change in the operation, and that advance revelation to a new dispensation of God’s eternal plan.
Remember, according to God’s total plan, all Seven Keys within the system guide the operation. They each have their unique purpose within all dispensations. They bring about dispensational changes. Without all Seven Keys operating in a dispensation’s operation, it will not change.
These keys within a dispensation are discussed throughout this book. They are Absolute Universal Rules. God created them. When the final three keys occur, the ending of a dispensation occurs (these are failure, transition, and Irreversible Punitive Judgment). Whenever each fulfills their purpose, the process ends ends the old and a new dispensation takes full control.
The Seventh Key is the last key ending a major-dispensation. This event is called the Irreversible Punitive Judgment and it ends an old dispensation. The new dispensation begins and takes full operational control when the judgment is over. The old dispensation leaves behind a residue, and the residue will disappear though it will be seen for a short time in the new dispensation.
The Irreversible Punitive Judgment from God occurs after God has exercised His long-suffering for a time. He directs it towards his chosen steward vessels, and patiently waits for humanity’s repentance (Rom. 2:4-6, 2 Pet. 3:9-10).
However, when humanity does not repent, the transition begins, ending with the Irreversible Punitive Judgment. The new Dispensation starts at the beginning (overlapping) operating in its infancy. The old and new remain until the completion of the Irreversible Punitive Judgment. This judgment will end the old Dispensation. The new Dispensation at that moment in time will take full effect.
Definitions of words that describe the Seventh Operational Rule:
Irreversible: permanent, irreparable, irretrievable, unalterable, irrevocable, irremediable, and irreversible.
Judgment: ruling, decision, finding, verdict, sentence, conclusion, result, and decree.
Long-suffering: forgiving, resigned, tolerant, accommodating, patient, and selfless.
Punitive: castigatory, penal, corrective, retaliatory, retributive, retributory, and punishing.
Wrath: anger, rage, fury, ire, displeasure, vexation, wroth, displeased, sad, indignation, and grieved.
These are the just consequences of His wrath: reckoning, punishment, and eternal death.
The following six dispensations end with an Irreversible Punitive Judgment (following is their corresponding Scripture verses, documenting the ending of each major-dispensation). Notice, the Seventh Major Dispensation does not fail, it goes on for eternity (The Dispensation of the Fullness of Time does not fail).
1. The Dispensation of Innocence: Humanity’s failure of disobedience brought judgment that ended the dispensation, and the final judgment event was the expulsion from the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:22-24).
Along with humanity’s failure, the defilement and degradation of creation occurred. Adam and Eve were the representatives of the human race (there was no child born before they sinned). They brought the Punitive Judgment on humanity and the entire human race and creation, ever since innocence was defiled and corrupted (Rom. 5, 8, 8:18-25). Their expulsion from the Garden of Eden was the climax of the Irreversible Punitive Judgment. This judgment came from God directly without using the instrument of humanity.
God expelled Adam and Eve from the Garden and commanded angels (cherubim’s) to guard the entrance against anyone entering. Thereby, there was no ability for humanity to enter on their own volition (Gen. 3:24). Their personal walk with God changed, and the potential of eating from the Tree of Life was taken from them. They now needed a redeemer for them to have eternal life, and access to God once again (Gen. 5:15, Rev. 2:7, 22).
The sin of disobedience was the trigger that brought about the destructive action leading up to the failure. Adam and Eve had the ability to move in one direction or the other. God created and instituted the ability of humanity to be able to make cognitive choices. Before eating of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, humans had an opportunity eat of the Tree of Life. They could choose to eat from two trees in the Garden of Eden. Sadly, they ate from the tree that was forbidden.
All the way to this present day, humanity has had the ability to choose. This is called free will. Humanity on an individual basis can choose between possibilities.
We can reject God’s offer of salvation and repentance, which leads to eternal death. Or we can accept God’s pardon that He provided though a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior who paid the just requirement for us to be forgiven and have eternal life (Ps. 103, Rom. 8, 10:9-13, Eph. 1:7, 2:8-9, 1 Jn. 2:1-3, 5:9-14).
Adam and Eve also demonstrated a lack of trust. They truly did not trust God. Instead, they exercised a lack of trust by choosing to act upon the lie of Satan. Their behavior accused God that He could not be trusted. They claimed that He was deliberately withholding something good from them (sad, very sad attitude and behavior).
Therefore, they did not trust God, and their actions, they were calling God a liar. Their lack of trust brought death to the entire human race. God said, “Humanity would die if they ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.”
This was the result of the disobedient actions by Adam and Eve. They sent a deadly message to humanity that their flesh and Satan knew what was better for them than their Creator God. To this day, humanity still does not trust and obey God. Today salvation is only in the LORD Jesus Christ, the tree of life (Acts 4:11-12, Lk. 17:24, John 6:33-35, 48-51, 7:38, Revelation 7:17).
The result was a refusal of submission to the chain of command or God’s authority. Therefore, instead of obedience to God, they followed and believed a lie, the lie of a cherub angel, Satan. Doing so, they showed their self-desire to be in command as they took on a sinful nature that passed inherently to the human race (Rom.1-5). Their noncompliance brought rebellion and disobedience into God’s plan.
Their lack of trust resulted in an incorrect choice, which caused disobedience, and showed a lack of love to their creator, God, the One who sustained their life, the One who created them in His image (Heb. 1:1-4).
God’s love has been offered to all (Jn. 3:16, Rom. 5:6-12). He created humanity to have a purpose in their work, with their families and in their communities. God lovingly gave humanity the innate command to subdue the earth. We were given the privilege to bring it under control by the exertion of our will in accordance with His righteousness and holiness (Gen. 1-2).
Their discontentment showed ingratitude to the God of creation, the One who sustains all life and who is to be glorified. God desires that His creation be in harmony with Him and others (Heb. 1:1-4, Ps. 55:22).
Humanity received a perfect Garden, and the earth was without fault. Sin occurred, then came the punitive judgment, causing creation to long for its redemption. Without redemption, came decay and death that continues up to the present day (Rom. 8:18-23).
God did not annihilate humanity after the Irreversible Judgment punishment. Rather He was long-suffering, he accommodated humanity’s sin by the provision of a sin covering of atonement and clothing them in his love (1 Jn. 4:19, Gen. 3:21, Rom. 5:6-11).
He demonstrated patience that only an all-powerful God could perform. God showed selflessness, since he could have annihilated all his creation. He could have started again, but he sought and planned to redeem humanity back to Himself.
Humanity is the recipient of God’s mercy and grace that He gave them. He clothed humanity in the righteousness that He accomplished through the work He planned in eternity past.
He gave entirely of himself for the justice required for the sin of humanity. He provided the redemptive sacrifice needed, for every human, by giving His Son as the substitutionary sacrifice for our sins (Rom. 5:6-12). He offers this still for each individual. Salvation is a choice to be received from God. When accepted, God forgives each man and woman of sin, and gives them a personal kinship with Him (Jn. 1:12-14, 3:16, Rom. 1, 8, 10:9-13, Ps. 103, 1 Jn. 5:9-14).
He concluded with a new dispensation taking full control that showed His great mercand grace. Through the dispensation, God carried out His completed plan of redemption that He planned in eternity past for humanity (Gen. 3:15, Gal. 4:4, Rom. 3:26).
He ruled with certain irrevocable events. God preserved the environment to prevent eternal destruction. The judgment protected humanity for if they had stayed in the Garden of Eden and ate of the Tree of Life; they would have remained in their fallen state for all eternity. Humanity would then not be redeemable and would spend eternity in the Lake of Fire with Satan.
Before moving to the next dispensation, we need to discuss and look at the angels of God briefly. God created the Angels to minister to humanity, who would willingly inherit salvation (Heb. 1:7, 14).
Angels knew their responsibility from creation. Nevertheless, Lucifer (Satan), in his pride, gave a false and deceitful directive to Eve. He lied in his recommendation and proposition to Eve. He also lied to her about the truth of God’s command. Satan’s ultimate sins are recorded in Ezekiel 28:14-15, Isaiah 14:12-15, and in Genesis 3:1-7, 14-15. They are pride, lying to Eve, and usurping God’s authority.
Lucifer, also called Satan, was in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. They did not demonstrate an improper expression of fear or trust towards Lucifer’s appearance (Ez. 28:11-15).
A third of the Angels fell by following Satan (Rev. 1:20, 12:3-4, 9, Jude 1:6). Fallen Angels are called demons, stars, and spirits. They are spiritual beings who fell, and they oppose God and us (Eph. 6:10-13, 2 Cor. 11:14). Fallen Angels and Satan were condemned for eternity and are often referred to as devils (Matt. 25:41). Hell and the Lake of Fire were created for Satan and his fallen angels who followed him (Rev. 20:10).
2. The Dispensation of Conscience: The universal worldwide flood with its catastrophic event was the Irreversible Punitive Judgment that came after the long-suffering of God ended. The flood resulted in the Irreversible Punitive Judgment, ending the Dispensation of Conscience. The climax of this severe judgment, the worldwide flood, was from God directly, who brought about the Irreversible Punitive Judgment on the dispensation (Gen. 6:13, 17, 7:11, 17-23, 2 Pet. 2:4-5, Matt. 24:37-42, Lk. 17:27).
This Punitive Judgment was against humanity for their deep wicked corruption. The sons of God (fallen angels, giants) intermarried with the daughters of humans. Their sin resulted in the complete wickedness of the human race.
Some try to identify the sons of God as the descendants of Cain, if that had been the case, then they would have been completely destroyed with the worldwide flood, but they appeared after the flood (Nephilim in Gen. 6:2-4 and Num. 13:33). Whatever one believes in Scripture, they are inherently evil and are against God’s people and they cause wickedness.
The Word of God makes it quite clear to believers that they are not to marry nonbelievers (2 Cor. 6:14). Nor are they to have improper relationships with animals or seek other foreign unions including with the same sex (Lev. 18:1-23, Ex. 20:14, Rom. 1).
God created the marriage bed as holy and for the fulfillment of procreation. Marriage is to result in child bearing, enjoyment, companionship, and in the intimacy of oneness (Heb. 13:4). When a man and woman marry, they become one. There is now a spiritual union of the two that is more than just a physical bond (1 Cor. 5:1-5, 5:9-11, 6:1-9; 18-20, 10:8, Rom. 1:18-32, Acts 15:29, Gal. 5:19, Eph. 4:19, 5:3, 1 Thess. 4:3-7, 1 Pet. 4:1-3, Rev. 2:14-23).
During the transition, from the time God observed the wickedness of humanity to the flood, humans had the time to repent until God closed the door of the ark. There was no one who did, and God's wrath came upon them all, causing them to perish in their sins, except for one family. Noah preached righteousness to them, but no one responded.
2 Peter 2:5: “and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly.”
The Worldwide flood, brought death to all except Noah’s family, for He had found grace in the long-suffering love of God, for the propagation of the human race (Gen. 6:8, Heb. 11:7, 1 Pet. 3:20, 2 Pet. 2:5). God could have taken Noah and his family directly to heaven. Still, He did not but continued His plan with humanity through Noah.
The Worldwide flood occurred about 1,656 years after creation (Gen. 5, 7:6-11).
Note: Matthew 24:37 to 42 and 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12 prophesied saying that the in the future humanity and society will be similar to the account of Noah. The conditions of the hearts of humanity will be hardened towards the things of God, and they will be taken in Judgment. The future dispensation referred to is the ending with the second coming of Jesus Christ in the Battle of Armageddon.
3. The Dispensation of Human Government: Man’s failure brought God’s Irreversible Punitive Judgment, resulting in the changing of the languages and the scattering of humanity. This judgment confounded their efforts to create a comprehensive, worldwide, false religious system.
These changes caused language differences and made humanity to disperse from their efforts. God imposed checks and balances on each other in this judgment. The climax of this judgment was God directly intervening without using human instruments, as He did with the Irreversible Punitive Judgment of the worldwide flood and the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. God, at this junction, planned and chose the family of Abram to bring about redemption in Christ Jesus (Gen. 11).
This Dispensation had a short-activated time (201 years) before the failure. The transition commenced and ran 266 more years before Abraham who was chosen for the next Dispensation. Remember, control of a dispensation is not controlled by time, but by God’s longsuffering over humanity’s sin and by His showing of mercy and grace in His plan to redeem humans (Gen. 10:10 to 11:26).
Additionally, the residue ran until the last evil and false prophet was seen after Mount Sinai. It was during the wandering of the Israelites in the wilderness before the complete transition ended (Num. 22, 2 Pet. 2:15, Jude 1:11, Rev. 2:14).
Here is a chart to explain the concepts we have been learning in this chapter thus far:
| Scripture | Irresistible Punitive Judgment |
Worldwide Flood |
||
“Shem was one hundred years old, and begot Arphaxad two years after the flood.” Genesis 11:10. |
100 years |
102 years |
||
“Arphaxad lived thirty-five years, and begot Salah.” Genesis 11:12. |
35 years |
|||
“Salah lived thirty years, and begot Eber.” Genesis 11:14. |
30 years |
|||
“Eber lived thirty-four years and begot Peleg,” Genesis 11:16. |
34 years |
|||
(Possible years of the Judgment) Tower of Babel Genesis 10:26. |
199 years |
201 years |
||
“Peleg lived thirty years, and begot Reu.” Genesis 11:18. (Note: Noah lived three-hundred and fifty years after the worldwide flood Genesis 9:28.). |
30 years |
|||
“Reu lived thirty-two years, and begot Serug.” Genesis 11:20. (Noah died 350 years after the flood Genesis 9:28.). |
32 years |
|||
“Serug lived thirty years, and begot Nahor.” Genesis 11:22. |
30 years |
|||
“Nahor lived twenty-nine years, and begot Terah.” Genesis 11:24. |
29 years |
|||
“Terah lived seventy years, and begot Abram.” Genesis 11:26. |
70 years |
|||
“And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.” Genesis 12:4. |
75 years |
|||
Since Irresistible Punitive Judgment, Tower of Babel |
266 years |
168 years |
||
Since Worldwide Flood |
467 years |
The ninth chapter previously explained humanity’s failure relating to false worship. Humanity’s selfish pride and attempt to unite all humans in sin was a concerted effort to establish a false religion.
Humanity united against God by creating a city and tower at Shinar, called the Tower of Babel. Their purpose was to reach the heavens as recorded in Genesis 9-11.
The reestablishment of the whole earth took place since the time of Noah and his three sons. The Bible records that Noah was still alive during this dispensation and its failure.
Genesis 9:28: "And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years.”
Peleg was a great-grandson of Shem. If the reference that, "the earth was divided," refers to the time of God’s Irreversible Punitive Judgment, then Peleg lived through the judgment and into the years of Abram’s early age before he died (Gen. 10:25, 11:19).
Our Lord God expresses His displeasure over humanity’s selfish efforts. They were seeking to become independent of Him and refusing His leading for worship. However, He showed mercy again in His wrath by not punitively, judging the human race by destruction with fury and giving grace in His actions.
God, still with open arms, allows humanity to respond to Him correctly as their creator. He is the One who sustains life. To know Him is to know the love that only He could give (Heb.1-4). Further, in the next dispensation recorded, God will reveal a system for worship. This system, the Mosaic Law, will fulfill the requirements needed for proper worship.
This system was given so a proper relationship with the God of eternity could be maintained until Jesus Christ. This was a system of redemption practiced in faith, which met the holy requirements for salvation and sanctified worship (until Christ). The Lord Jesus Christ would then finish His plan later for redemption and worship through the Gospel.
Jesus Christ, the Lord, fulfilled the plan of eternal forgiveness for every human who would respond to His incarnation provision. After salvation, one was to worship through the LORD and His finished works (Acts 4:12, 1 Tim. 2:5, Heb. 7:27, 10:11, Gal. 4:4-6).
God accommodates, and in His willingness, He planned to provide life-sustaining care for humanity’s livelihood. However, humanity failed in appropriating proper worship and obedience. God’s punishment and unalterable punitive ruling regarding His decision was given by His scattering of the world’s population and changing their languages.
He chose one line of humanity, Abram’s descendants. He developed a Nation through Abram in order to bring to humanity a Savior so that anyone who would accept His sacrifice “would be saved.”
This Dispensation changed with the introduction of Abram. With his introduction, Scripture began to reveal a new administration, the Dispensation of Promise. The Guiding Key in the previous chapter, chapter 10, describes this transition period, which all dispensations have in common. It also shows the conclusion of a dispensation, and the full control of the new Dispensation.
4. The Dispensation of Promise: God chose to use one Nation. He chose Jacob’s twelve children to form the Nation of Israel out of His love (Deut. 7:6-8). They came through the lineage of Abram, whose name was changed to Abraham.
The Bible dedicates the most massive Biblical record to this dispensation that outlines the chosen Nation Israel. This was a pivotal dispensation. The Nation, through Christ, brought completion to God’s eternal plan of redemption. (Note also for today, God’s love is for us today personally (Rom. 5:7-10, 8:28-38, Jn. 3:16).
Christ provided the New Covenant fulfillment of redemption that was perfect for the eternal offer. After many disciplinary incidents in Israel’s history, Christ Jesus came. Israel had three major failures and sins in this dispensation. These three lead into the Irresistible Punitive Judgment on the Nation of Israel.
These three events of failure resulted in the Mystery Irreversible Punitive Judgment. Israel’s National rejection of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (Triune God) occurred leading into the Irreversible Punitive Judgment. The judgment of Daniel’s 70 weeks was postponed before going into the prophesied seven-year Tribulation.
The uniqueness, started was the Mystery Dispensation with the Mystery Transition and mystery Irreversible Punitive Judgment on the Dispensation of Promise. The last rejection of the Holy Spirit brought judgment on Israel.
They rejected their stewardship by their sin. They sinned against the Holy Spirit that resulted in the Mystery Irreversible Punitive Judgment on the Dispensation of Promise (Acts 7:51-60, 28:25-29). This started the operation of the new Dispensation of Equality (Grace) that would take full control by the end of the Acts period. It was not described in prophecies during the Dispensation of Promise or at any time before it (Rom. 11, 16:25-27, Eph. 3:8-21, Col. 1:25-27).
Israel had the opportunity to repent, all the way up to the time of the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7). The Nation lost prominence as exclusive stewards. Israel lost its position in presenting the Gospel to the gentile world as leaders; nevertheless, they will experience reinstatement after the Rapture.
Absolutely, Jewish men wrote the Bible, and the Holy Spirit inspired it (God-breathed). They were Jewish, but the Nation of Israel lost their position (relating to the chain of spiritual leadership).
The Nation of Israel will not regain their unique position until after the Rapture. The Rapture ends the Mystery Dispensation of Equality (also call the Dispensation of Grace). The final punitive judgment included prophecies, the postponement of the Tribulation period, and the implementation of the mystery Irreversible Punitive Judgment. This was the Irreversible Punitive Judgment on the Dispensation of Promise. Israel will not regain its spiritual leadership until the Mystery Dispensation is complete, right after the Rapture.
This final event for the Nation of Israel at that time was the stoning of Stephen. With this act, the Nation lost its stewardship. After the stoning of Stephen, the Gentiles continued their oppression on the Jews. Stephen's relationship with this event brought the final judgment on Israel. Stephen's spiritual relationship to God as recorded was a steward who was filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:10).
Longsuffering of God ended with their refusal to repent as a Nation and with Stephen's stoning. The account states that the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to Stephen from heaven, as Israel’s leaders stoned him. The Lord was sending an indictment, an imputative action from God pronouncing judgment on the Nation (Acts 7:54-57, Amos 9:1, Jas. 5:9, Rev. 14:1).
The Nation of Israel had the opportunity to dispense the Redemptive Covenant after the completed work of Christ Jesus and the New Covenant's implementation. They were qualified through the receiving of the permanent indwelling or seal of the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, the Nation refused to be stewards and were laid aside as primary stewards (Acts 1 to 7).
As a chosen Nation, Israel committed the unpardonable sin of rejection of the Holy Spirit, resisting His conviction. Because of this rejection, they temporarily forfeited the potential they could have had as a Nation for the last two thousand “plus years”.
Never in their lifetime of the time, would they be able to restore this relationship. This sin was the last, and it brought upon them the Irreversible Punitive Judgment. If the Nation of Israel had listened and repented they could have been God’s stewards of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ as a Nation to the world as it will be after the Mystery Dispensation’s completion (Matt. 12:32, Acts 3:17-21, 7:51, 55, 28:23-29).
The three events of Israel’s rejection that led to the Irreversible Punitive Judgment were the rejecting of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Their denial by rejection and repudiation with no repentance caused the laying aside of their Nation. No longer were they the primary dispensers or stewards in preaching of the Gospel to the world.
After the Rapture and through the seven-year Tribulation period, a chosen remnant will accept Christ Jesus as Lord and Messiah Savior. The Jews who are saved during the Tribulation are the true Israel. They are a remnant who will live and many will endure. They will repopulate the new Nation of Israel, going into the Dispensation of the Kingdom (Is. 10:20-23, 11:10-11, 28:5, Zeph. 3:8-20).
After the Rapture, God will insert the Nation of Israel back into His plan as leading stewards. God will finish His promises to the Nation of Israel. The Nation of Israel, the true faithful Israeli remnant, will recognize and accept Jesus as their Messiah.
Isaiah 25:9: “And it will be said in that day: “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the Lord; (Jesus-Yahweh); we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.”
The Dispensation of Grace is a continuation of the period called The Time of the Gentiles. It will end with the seven year Tribulation. The Gentiles oppression is prophesied in the Book of Revelation along with the events ending with the Battle of Armageddon.
The period of the Gentiles is plural; it is not a onetime gentile nation. This shows that the time of the Gentiles is a time that goes on for a long period and it includes many oppressions against Israel from many different Gentile nations.
The Bible documents the history of the Nation of Israel, beginning with Israel’s captivity, right up to today (Lk. 21:24). Israel could have repented during any of these periods. The chastisement that was brought upon them was caused and conveyed on them by themselves because they refused God the Father, refusing to receive Jesus Christ as LORD, and because of their blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1 to 7).
Israel’s downfall began with their rejection of God the Father (Is. 63:16 cf. v. 10). Their captivity reveals the anger of God for the Nation Israel’s ungodly behavior. Israel’s rejection of God the Father, was demonstrated in the exile of Israel (Deut. 32:6, 18, 2 Sam. 7:12-14, 1 Kings 15:24, 1 Chron. 17:11-14, 22:10, 28:6, 29:10, Ps. 89:26, Is. 9:6, 63:16, 64:8, Jer. 3:4, 31:9, Mal. 1:6, 2:10, Matt. 5:16, Is. 60:10-11).
Israel’s second downfall was their rejection of the Son, Jesus Christ as Lord (Jn. 1:11). The wrath of God that the New Testament expressively speaks is the judgment on the wicked, and on the rebellious covenant people for refusing to repent. It applied to their leadership and all those who refused to believe in and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (Matt. 21:23-46, Jn. 3:36). The baptizing of John the Baptist was a call for Israel to repent.
With the crucifixion of our LORD, humanity showed the depth of its evil. Evil is within our hearts. This is evidenced by the viciousness of the murder on an innocent person, Jesus. It demonstrated the wickedness one is capable of doing. We are being self-centered when we reject the truth of God’s Word.
The Nation of Israel, along with the instrument of the Gentiles, performed this evil. Together they were deserving of the Irreversible Punitive Judgment, but our Lord said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing." God showed mercy and grace by not exercising His Holy Righteous and just privilege of judgment on the Nation of Israel, and humanity, for His Love for His creation was great (Jn. 3:16, Rom. 5:7-10).
God definitely demonstrated His love, mercy, and grace by restraining His wrath, and by offering repentance to the steward Nation, which they did not desire. He extended forgiveness (Acts 1 to 3). However, by Israel’s rejection, God is still extending His mercy and grace to the Gentiles by demonstrating His love for all, through a dispensation of equality (Rom. 11).
With the implementation of the New Covenant in Acts 2, Israel was “called” to repent by the Holy Spirit. However, by the end of Acts 7, their Irreversible Punitive Judgment was sealed. They were offered forgiveness and a continuation of their stewardship, but they refused (Matt. 2, Acts 2:14-44, 3:12-15, Acts 7).
God offered and demonstrated to an ungodly Nation His desire for them to be saved and he demonstrated to them the depth of the sacrifice that He provided. However, evil extended so deep. You see, depravity prescribes evil, it robs others, takes what does not belong to it, and it gossips, slanders, and withholds justice. It also did the unthinkable; it killed the Lord Jesus, the only hope of salvation (Is. 10:1-3, Ac. 3:14-16, 4:27).
The third event of depravity was the out-right rejection of God the Holy Spirit. First came the warning, announcing the penalty of such, which was a dismissal by rejection (Matt. 12:32) and then the actual occurrence of this historical event took place through the rejection of the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51, 55, 13:46, 28:23-29, Rom. 11).
After the rejection the seven-year Tribulation period would have occurred, the 70th week of Daniel, if God had not begun and revealed the Dispensation of Grace (Dan. 9:24-27, 12, Matt. 24, Is. 13:13, 14:6, Rev. 1 to 19, Deut. 29).
Israel's irreversible consequences of rejecting the Holy Spirit's call brought dire and awful consequences to the Nation. Their refusal to repent opened the door for God's Mystery Dispensation, resulting in the continuation of the Gentile's oppression on the Jews. God judged the Nation of Israel for their refusal to repent, and refusal to accept the Messiah under the Holy Spirit’s call for repentance. It brought about the Irresistible Punitive Judgment upon their stoning of Stephen (Act 7, Rom. 11).
The climax of this judgment was God directly revealing His plan from eternity past. He revealed it using the instrument of a Mystery dispensation. He accomplished His Irreversible Punitive Judgment by changing the stewardship from His chosen Nation to everyone being equally responsible for being stewards.
5. The Dispensation of Grace: The Dispensation of Equality or the Mystery Dispensation will end with the Rapture. When this happens, the unregenerate will be left behind and will go into the terrible seven-year Tribulation. This will separate them from the transformed believers that will be taken with the Lord Jesus Christ in the Rapture to heaven.
When the Irreversible Judgment comes, believers will be taken out of the world with the Holy Spirit, who has indwelt them from the time of their salvation (Eph. 1:13-14). When this happens, a void for all the wickedness orchestrated by Satan will be released on the world. This void will be a worldwide judgment that is described in all the events of the book of Revelation. The order is revealed in the book of Revelation and it ends with The Battle of Armageddon (Rev. 1-20).
When the Rapture is over, there will be a great vacuum on earth. However, God working through the Holy Spirit will reveal the truth of Christ Jesus. Anyone who has not heard and rejected the Gospel after the Rapture can still be transformed. They will also refuse the mark of the beast because of their commitment to the Eternal Gospel message of Christ Jesus the LORD (Revelation 1 to 7).
However, God’s wrath will come on all the nonbelievers left behind. They will be judged punitively. They are to face the Irreversible Punitive Judgment for eternity. The nonbelievers coming from the Dispensation of Grace will all die in the Tribulation transition. They cannot repent and receive the mercy and grace from our Lord Jesus; it is part of their punitive judgment from our LORD.
He will send them delusions, and they will believe the delusion of evil depravity. This is because they rejected the offer for themselves as a gift in the Dispensation of Grace. Salvation was offered before freely to anyone before the Rapture (Rom. 6:23, 11:17-28, 1 Thess. 5:1-10, 2 Thess. 2 cf. 1 Thess. 4:13-18).
2 Thessalonians 2:11: “And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie.”
Those who rejected Christ Jesus after hearing the Gospel before the Rapture will die, sealing their eternal destiny. They will never be able to go back to the opportunity they had passed up for salvation (2 Thess. 2:8-12).
The Rapture event ends the dispensation for believers. They do not enter the prophesied Tribulation. Those who rejected the Gospel's message will die naturally, or by the events during the Tribulation period or by the final battle called The Battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16:12-16).
The climax of this judgment is from God directly. The prophesied Tribulation is the Irreversible Punitive Judgment on those left behind. Remember, as shown earlier, this will be for those who rejected the Gospel. The Irreversible Judgment of those left behind starts at the Rapture, which also serves to end the Dispensation of Grace. Next begins the Tribulation and transitions into the next dispensation. The postponement will be lifted at the Rapture for Israel, and the completion of Israel's promises will come to pass in the transition and they will be ultimately fulfilled in the Dispensation of the Kingdom.
After the Rapture, prophecy picks up, starting precisely where the Mystery Dispensation of Equality overlaid it. Remember that the Dispensation of Grace was not foretold before, and was revealed fully to the Apostle Paul for the new dispensation (Gal. 1:11, 1:12-24, 2:1-10, Col. 1:24-26, Rom. 16:25, Eph. 3:1, 9, Acts 9:15, 26:12-23).
Note: The other apostles were not told of the new working of God in its fullness, but they were given the knowledge that God was saving the Gentiles along with them (Acts 10, 15, Eph. 3:5).
At The Battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16:16), our Lord Jesus Christ will physically return to earth to rule (Rev. 19:11-23). All nonbelievers will be sent directly to hell. The nonbeliever will not enter the Dispensation of the Kingdom.
The ones taken by death in the Punitive Judgment in Noah’s days were the unrighteous. Only righteous Noah and his family were saved. After The Battle of Armageddon only the believers of God, who are still alive and transformed during the Tribulation, will enter the Dispensation of the Kingdom to repopulate the earth (Matt. 24).
Earlier in this chapter, we discussed the Dispensation of Conscience. Angels were also discussed and we saw how both angels and humanity were complicit in the fall. The Lord used this as an example in Mathew. The flood was the Irreversible Judgment executed on the wicked.
The same is true in Matthew 24. Those taken in judgment are the unrighteous, not the righteous. This judgment will happen at His second coming to earth, when the wicked are sent to hell to await the Great White Throne Judgment.
Are the fallen Angels acting the same way during the destruction of the human race as in Noah’s day?
A study of angels will show that angels influence humans on the decisions they make during their lives (Eph. 6:10-13, 2 Cor. 11:13-15, 1 Cor. 7:5). Whenever one sees fallen angels in Scripture, they are evil. They are against God’s people, and they cause wickedness.
The Word of God makes it quite clear that believers and nonbelievers are not to marry, being unequally yoked, joined together (2 Cor. 6:14-16). Humanity is not to have an improper relationship with animals, or seek evil unions or seek same-sex relationships. If one does this, it is similar to having a relationship with Satan, and darkness results from the consequences that accompanying such behavior (1 Cor. 6:9-10, 2 Cor. 6:11-18, Lev. 18:23, Rom. 1). The Bible, in the book of Jude, mentions the workings of fallen angels in the lives of humanity in the previous dispensation.
The reason Satan abhors the human race, is because of his hatred for the redeemed. His hatred is because "believers" become children of the eternal God through adoption. Simply put, they take a position above angels. Believers are elevated in the chain of command to do Jesus Christ's work. The adoption that Jesus Christ provided makes one a child of God.
"To as many as receive Him," as Lord and Savior, is a vitally important doctrine. It is a gift, we are given forgiveness and become children adopted next to Jesus Christ for all eternity (Matt. 1:21, Jn. 1:12, Rom. 8:16-21, Eph. 5:1).
To conclude, at the Rapture, believers are adopted children of the Lord Jesus Christ going into the next dispensation.
6. The Dispensation of the Kingdom: This Dispensation will take place on earth and is the thousand-year reign of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus. At the end of this Dispensation, Christ will cast those into hell, those who were born during the Millennium and who were not transformed.
In this Kingdom Dispensation, they rejected Christ and followed Satan. He will throw them along with those already in hell into the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:7-15). This Judgment is Punitive and Irreversible. It is called the Great White Throne Judgment. Humanity's failure brings God's Punitive Judgment that will end the Dispensation.
Before the judicial court of the Great White Throne Judgment account, there is a battle called the Battle of Gog and Magog. This judgment is where the unregenerate die (Rev. 20:7-9, Ez. 38:2, 18-23). At the end of this battle, Satan, the deceiver of the world, will be judged and cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone. The beast and the false prophets will already be there since they were thrown into the Lake of Fire at the ending of The Battle of Armageddon (Rev. 20:10, 19:19-20).
The climax of this judgment is from God and it will not include the instruments of humans (Rev. 20:9). He will bring the Irreversible Punitive Judgment ending the Dispensation of the earthly Kingdom.
Note: These are all the Irreversible Punitive Judgments of the Major Dispensation. These all came directly from God after the transition of each Dispensation. There were and are: the expulsion from the Garden of Eden, the worldwide flood, the scattering of humanity by race and language causing confusion, Israel being overlaid by the revealing of the Mystery Dispensation, nonbelievers being left behind after the Rapture with The Battle of Armageddon and finally The Great White Throne Judgment.
7. The Dispensation of the Fullness of Time: There will be no punitive judgment during this Dispensation for The Kingdom of God has no Punitive Judgment since all evil for eternity is done. The redeemed will live forever in holiness, righteousness, and justification.
There will be a new heaven and new earth comprised of all the redeemed. All of believing humanity will live as God created them to live, in His image and redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ that He provided for them (Rev. 21 to 22). All things will be subjected under the Godhead and will submit to His order of leadership (1 Cor. 15:25-28).
The Eternal Kingdom will be enjoyed within the presence of God the Father, God the Son, Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Spirit. Let all creation give praise, glory, worship, and prayers to our one eternal God and Savior (Eph. 3:20-21). Amen.
On pg. 381
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On pg. 384
Chapter 12
Chapters Forward / Goals - Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12.
Subordinate-Dispensations:
A subordinate-dispensation is one of the main obstacles for non-dispensationalists to overcome and learn. Dispensationalists ignore the subordinate truths when they categorize their schematic(s).
As stated in chapter seven, there are differences in dispensation’s hierarchies. There are Major Dispensations and subordinate-dispensations. (Review the seven Major dispensations from chapter one, the chart at the end of chapter one or the index.
First, a Dispensation is made-up by God as part of His overall plan to bring His redemptive opportunity to each individual (Rom. 13:1-7). There are within the Seven Major Dispensations many subordinate dispensations. The Eternal Dispensation is the most important; this is the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time, which is God’s endless program. That Dispensation is superior to all others.
All subordinate dispensations are within the Seven Majors. History is moving to the Kingdom of God and within that movement the infinite Seven Major Dispensations Operate. All the other subordinate-dispensations follow them in the chain of authority.
These Seven Major Dispensations have controlled and operated the economies of God throughout history. When humanity fails during a Major, and the longsuffering of God finally ends. After many chastisements of discipline, He brings the next Major Dispensation into operation. Subordinate dispensations work within the Majors. Subordinate-dispensations are subordinate to the Seven Major Dispensations (Rom. 13:1).
Subordinate dispensations often are organized by the human element, however even then God ordains them by His power that is working behind its development. Simply put, He brings them about. There are two types of organizers bringing a subordinate into existence.
First God has ordained the institution of the subordinate and the other is the humans, arranges the organizing of the subordinate as God ordained. For example, subordinates can be thought of as revealed in the Book of Judges that have many subordinate-dispensations, or the Mosaic Law that will be described later in this chapter. Another example would be your local city government and your family unit. These are all subordinate-dispensations. There are many subordinate dispensations, but there are only seven Major Dispensation.
This procedure has been operating since creation and will continue forward into eternity future with the final Dispensation, which never fails, planned in Christ Jesus our LORD (Eph. 1:10, Rev. 21-22). The Seven Majors reveal the beginning and completion in God’s scheduled foreknowledge. His sovereign plan was established in eternity past, for the present and future. The working of the subordinate, works to complement the success of the Major Dispensation.
Each of the Major Dispensations have Seven Fundamental Operating Principle Rules, and when humanity brings failure, it leads the dispensation into the next dispensation through a transition.
The Seven Fundamental Operating Principles are listed in the index, or explained in chapters six through eleven.
The Major Dispensations stewards’ own nothing but are charged to carry out the mandates of God according to His will. God is the Head Owner and Supreme Commander in Chief.
Subordinate-dispensations are subservient to the Seven Majors. God also appoints the other ordained governmental subordinate dispensations, forming the primary leadership to the local rulers under the Major Dispensation. The subordinates are made-up of all governments, believers, and non-believers ordained by God.
For example, the United States has had forty-six presidents as of 2021. Each had a different dispensation. Their ordained existence is by God for human development and He directs their lives as planned within God’s overall dispensational plan. God carries out the plans even though; non-believers reject giving Him the credit (Acts 17:18-23).
Subordinate-dispensations are the governing dispensations under the Major. They include the employers, families, or single person’s dispensations. (Rom. 13:1-7, I Pet. 2:13-18, Eph. 5:15-31). A subordinate dispensation can change, be completed or replaced with another while a Major is operating, but they do not have all seven operating keys that make-up the seven majors.
On pg. 386
The Relationship of Operating Keys to the Relationship between Major and Subordinate-Dispensations
Today’s dispensationalists need to reevaluate their understanding of their schematic and be consistent with historical dispensations. They need to look first at the content of their knowledge about the dispensation while keeping the following in mind.
Many have missed the Seven Fundamental Operating Keys in each Major Dispensation. Along with that, they have missed taking into consideration the Major Dispensations, and maybe this is why they have two, three, four, or more dispensations than they need to. They are in reality diagramming and including subordinate-dispensations. They are not taking into consideration all the following differences.
Reiterated, the Seven Major Dispensations have the following Fundamental Operating Principles. First, the Universal Absolute Truths, which never change. Second, there are the rules of the new operation. Third, there are rules modified from previous Dispensations and carryover laws. Fourth, the stewards, ordained by God for the dispensation. The Fifth are the failures, or sins of the Dispensation that bring it to its end. Sixth, is the transition to the next Dispensation, and the Seventh is the Irreversible Punitive Judgment, which ends with God’s just penalty.Some dispensations that theologians have defined as Major Dispensations are not. The one that creates the most controversy is the Mosaic Law, along with the Mosaic Covenant. They begin a new Major Dispensation. The Mosaic Law was the beginning of a subordinate-dispensation, not a Major, but many do not recognize it as a subordinate-dispensation, which is under the Major Dispensation of Promise.
God never quit working with the Nation of Israel. The Mosaic Law additions were for the further development of His chosen nation in the dispensation. They were given to Israel whose responsibility it was to pass the Abrahamic bond covenants to successive dispensation (Lev. 26:42, 45-46).
As you study the Major Dispensations, you will see other subordinate-dispensations. There are some subordinates, but they do not meet the criteria of the Seven Major Dispensations. They are missing one or more of the Seven Operating Principles. Only the Seven Major Dispensations meet the requirements consistently. Let us look at these more in detail.
First Major Dispensation: The Dispensation of Innocence has all Seven Operation Principles or Keys. Does Scripture reveal any other dispensations within this period of the history that meet the seven criteria of a Major Dispensation?
Creation in the Genesis account shows that no subordinate-dispensations were revealed unless one wants to break-up the period or days of creation, which does not meet the criteria of a Major Dispensation.
The whole of God’s working in the first dispensation does not change. It changed when sin entered the world (this was discussed in more detail in Chapter 10 in the section about Transitions).
Until the beginning of the transition, there was no change in the stewards or conditions. Stewards remained the same throughout the economy until Adam and Eve’s sin. God then pronounced the modification for the next dispensation in Genesis 3 and ended with the Irreversible Punitive Judgment. Therefore, only one Major Dispensation was revealed at this time and no subordinate-dispensation(s) appeared.
Review the chapters on the Operating Keys (chapters six through the eleven).
The Second Major Dispensation: The Dispensation of Conscience is a Major Dispensation. There are subordinate-dispensations revealed within it. The Word of God does not provide enough details to define any in the second dispensation.
It begs the question, if there were; however, because there were societies formed that made up the world during this period. Any of these societies would have arranged an administration of leadership establishing a subordinate-dispensation. The primary rulers of the family heads would have determined rulers. In addition, all governments, whether comprised of believers or non-believers, have a system of rule. Humans all throughout history as they live out their earthly lives have formed systems for governing (Gen. 4:17). These systems are subordinate to Major Dispensations.
Genesis 6:11 indicates that God looked at the world during this time as one Major Dispensation. He judged and evaluated all the subordinate-dispensations together in His sovereignty.
He assessed them directly with His longsuffering. God was working through each family stewardship who lived under the Major Dispensation. Their responsibility was to live righteously before Him and perform His directives led by their conscience.
Again, all Seven Operating Keys here point to a Major Dispensation recorded in Scripture. The Dispensation of Conscience went into its failure, followed by the transition and the Irreversible Punitive Judgment. The operation fulfills the last three of the Seven Principles Operating. It would be helpful to go back and review Chapter 9.
The Third Major Dispensation: In Dispensation of Human Government, we see God officially ordaining humans. They are to govern human affairs. The establishment of governmental rule was, and is a significant development for humanity. God ordained human government to rule in this Dispensation. This is why it is called The Dispensation of Human Government. Now verdicts would go through a court system ruled by principles of human justice.
In this dispensation, humanity’s conscience and government were designed to work together, modifying the rules of justice and righteousness. Each new Stewardship Institution is responsible for forming governments. The first three dispensations do not have much history revealed in them. They may have had other subordinate-dispensations in them, but those that were possible did not have all Seven Operation Key Principles operating.
The Dispensation of Human Government must have had a subordinate administration that was formed as they progressively moved through history. Theologians try to make multiple dispensations between the Worldwide Flood to Abram. However, suppose one could try to claim that the flood to the tower of Babel was one dispensation, and another was from the tower to Abram. There is no consistency in such an endeavor. One cannot find the Seven Operating Principles of the Major Dispensations, they do not exist in these (Gen. 1 to 11).
When there are multiple dispensations made, making more beyond the Seven Major espoused by teachers, we find they are subordinate to the Major. These dispensations espoused have a guiding principle that is present within their claims. Nevertheless, they lack one of the Fundamental Seven Operating Principles. Lacking any of the seven makes them incomplete. Thus, they are not in keeping with the consistency of a Major Dispensation’s operation (see chapters one through three for more information).
The Fourth Major Dispensation: The Dispensation of Promise goes on through to the end of Acts 7 then transitions as a God ordained Major Dispensation of Grace. Within the Dispensation of Promise, there are many subordinate-dispensations. They carried out God’s plan of redemption within this Major Dispensation.
Additionally, progressive history of the Dispensation of Promise recorded and implements the maturing of the Redemptive Covenant. The New Covenant came to maturity completing the eternal redemption. The Dispensation of Promise operation revealed the finished works of God through Christ Jesus in the New Covenant. He completed and empowered the New Covenant of redemption (Heb. 1:1-4, 7:18-22, Gal.4:4, Jn.14, 16).
The following are examples of the errors made with subordinate verses Major dispensations.
Some have espoused that there was a historic dispensation during the time of the patriarchs from Abraham to Israel. Some dispensationalists espouse dispensations from Creation to Abraham, another Abraham to Moses and another from Moses to Christ Jesus, and yet others still from the Mosaic Law to the Dispensation of Grace.
Many dispensationalists hold to an inconsistent Dispensation of Grace starting. Their inconsistency stems from not being able to pinpoint when Israel lost its unique stewardship. As such they wonder when the Dispensation of Grace ends and when the dispensation of the earthly Kingdom begins.
These views do not qualify correctly for Major Dispensations, and they are missing the consistency that the Seven Operational Keys bring. They miss the symmetry of all the Major Operating Principles.
Therefore, they are not in keeping with the principles of the whole seven operating structure. This is the problem with their views regarding the Dispensation of Grace. They fail to start and end the Dispensation of Grace correctly. They do not follow a Major Dispensation schematic revealed in God’s Word and miss the Seven Operating Principles of Major Dispensations.
Different examples of their misguided views stem from a misunderstanding of when the Nation of Israel’s position changed (when Israel was laid-aside or overlaid). Some say this was when Jesus pronounced to the Scribes and Pharisees the “woes” in Mathew’s Gospel (Matt. 23). Others say it took place at Christ Jesus’ crucifixion and others at Acts 2 or Acts 28.
All these views fall short of the final sin of Israel in Acts 7 after the New Covenant implementation when the Nation of Israel refused to repent by rejecting the Holy Spirit (see chapter six for more information). There was the call of repentance for correction, but no abandonment, all original promises given to the patriarchs in the Promise dispensation remained secure until Acts 7 (Matt 12:31-32). There is no change or failure causing an Irreversible Punitive Judgment before Acts 7 in this Dispensation (see chapters ten and eleven).
The History of Israel’s time in Egypt: This was not a judgment; their time there was a subordinate administration or dispensation. They were living under a subordinate Egyptian dispensation. This Egyptian event was still under the Major Dispensation of Promise. They being children of God’s choosing were in keeping with the promised covenants made to Abraham. These historical events were preparing Israel for growing in their dependence on God.
During this time, Abraham’s dependents, directed by God went into Egypt, and came out by His deliverance. This was all still in the Dispensation of Promise, and the stewardship did not change. The stewardship would not change until the Dispensation of Grace. Therefore, going into Egypt and coming out was not a Major Dispensational change.
God, continuously from this experience, reminded them and showed them mercy and grace. The experience of going into Egypt and their deliverance from Egypt shows God’s sovereignty. God used this event to show how many times His greatness, mercy, grace and love were available.
God demonstrated the extent that He could help them through their history. He reminded them of their election as His chosen stewards in showing His mighty power and deliverance many times. The period in Egypt does not qualify as a “Major Dispensation.” The period lacks Major Dispensational operating events. The Egyptian trials given were for spiritual growth and endearment for His people (Jas. 3:1-8, 1 Pet. 1:6, Rom. 8:18-29). Remember, our trials are for spiritual growth and endearment by God and are available for us today. This is an Absolute Universal Principle (Jas. 1)!The giving of the Mosaic Law, revealed new Universal Absolute Principles that did not change the promise of Israel’s stewardship. The Dispensation of Promise was still in effect at this time. God opened their eyes and humanity to moral truths through the Mosaic Law. In addition, a dispensation does not change just because a covenant was given that is new or fulfilled.
The Mosaic Law’s reveal the righteousness and truths of justice. Remember, a Major Dispensational change does not occur just because new laws are given. New laws within a Dispensation do not constitute a change. Changes require all Seven Operating Rules to be in effect.
The rules for Israel were for their development in possessing the land promised. Laws would establish government and worship standards for the Nation of Israel. The giving of the Law does not meet the Seven Operating Principles of a Major Dispensation. There will be dispensational chastisements as the dispensation progresses, but there was no punitive judgment that was irreversible during that point in their history. The giving of the Mosaic Law had no final sins, no transition, or change from the promised people as stewards. The events were in the Dispensation of Promise that remained intact.
History to this point showed humanity’s fall from innocence followed by the working of personal conscience, governments, and promise. All of these were developed so humanity could know themselves and to show them their need of God as Savior for deliverance (Heb. 1:1-4).
Remember, the Biblical original language definition of a dispensation is the dispensing of the household rules of God. The stewards carry out the economy's operation. A Dispensation’s continuous operation is controlled by the success or failure of the economy.The length of time is not a governing factor of a dispensation but God's long-suffering and the economy's success.
The Mosaic Law was for humanity. It was recorded in Scripture and was given during the Dispensation of Promise. They are Universal Absolute moral laws that do not change. All the moral requirements were and are for humanity’s obedience. This referring to the Ten Commandments and the commentaries on them recorded in Exodus, Leviticus Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
Laws were given so people could attempt to keep the requirements (Ex. 19). The giving of the laws showed humanity how much they needed a savior. They show humanity’s inability to change apart from the transformation that only the LORD Jesus did and could accomplish for them (Heb. 7:18-22).Exodus 19:8: “Then all the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” So Moses brought back the words of the people to the Lord.”
The historical examples show that humanity cannot save itself apart from God imputing His righteousness into humanity (Rom. 4). Sin had to be paid, and only Jesus the Lord could do this, He kept the whole law of God and met the just payment needed for humanity (Rom. 7:1-25, 2 Cor. 5:21, Heb. 4:15).
Romans 3:26: “to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
God can be fully trusted. He cannot lie and He does not break promises. He gave a promise to Abraham, and He will accomplish His plan! Some dispensationalists have made a Dispensation out of the Mosaic Law events. Yet, the events lack the principles within them that would make it a Major Dispensation.
Some dispensationalists have made the Mosaic Law a Major Dispensation but this was not a dispensational change. They mistakenly call their schematic by a name (the dispensation of law) without checking to see if the full definition of a Dispensation is met. However, the Mosaic Law brought to humanity the knowledge of universal laws. They did not change the universal laws already given. The laws added to the Dispensation of Promise.
The operating truths are missing. These are the failure, transition, and Irreversible Punitive Judgment. They are not present in the Mosaic Law, which would have caused a new dispensation.Galatians 3:19: “What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.”
Note: Remember the Operating Principles of a Major Dispensation. First, Universal Absolute Truths do not change. The second principle is that there will be new laws for the dispensation. Third, laws will be carried over and from the former dispensation(s). Fourth, there will be institutional change via the stewards chosen by God. Sin is the fifth that begins the dispensation’s failure, and the sixth is a transition. The seventh is the Irreversible Punitive Judgment that closes the Dispensation.
The history of the wilderness events still included the chosen people of God as stewards. The history of the forty years of wandering in the wilderness was a disciplinary event. The desert was a disciplinary correction for the lack of Israel’s trust. It was done to move them forward in their faith and confidence to conquer the Promised Land.
It was a time of refining and preparation to enter the land deeded to them from God. It also lacked the events found in a Major Dispensation. The stewardship remained the same, with no transition changing the dispensation. Lastly, Irreversible Punitive Judgment did not take place.
The history of the Judges of Israel came because of Israel’s failures when it came to their leadership responsibility and stewardship role. They synchronized the truth with false worship. They replaced truth with idol worship, and they replaced the knowledge of the one Supreme God with that of a false religion.Their disobedience did not bring God’s abandonment to their stewardship but disciplinary actions. Rather, the LORD revealed His love and deliverance to them through different events during the period of the judges. He raised-up judges upon their cry for deliverance when events brought oppression. God’s long-suffering mercy and grace gave them relief and liberation. These developments showed God’s love and care to His beloved Nation many times, and there was never a permanent judgment but only a disciplinary action carried out upon them.
The book of Judges illustrates God’s long-suffering, patience, preservation and deliverance upon repentance instead of an irreversible judgment. The book of Judges reveals that God’s people cannot go their sinful ways without discipline. When they do, they bring upon themselves consequences for their actions. This is an excellent lesson for believers today and for the world’s governments to take note of (Heb. 6:4-9, 1 Cor. 3:9-16, 1 Jn. 5:14-21, Rom. 2:2-3).
Within the book of Judges, if one counts each deliverance as a Dispensation, there would be many. There are many more subordinate-dispensations but none of them can meet all Seven Operating Principles found in a Major Dispensation.
In the history of the Kings and Kingdom, one could say there was a different dispensation for each king. Each ruled Israel’s kingdom with differences. Each of the kings’ realms was a subordinate-dispensation.
However, they do not meet the criteria of a Major Dispensational change. The stewardship remained with the Israelite nation. God continued to work out His dispensational plan through each subordinate-dispensation.
Each king had a different dispensation (administration). A change in the Major Dispensation of Promise did not start until the period called The Time of the Gentiles, which began, with the rejecting of God the Father. After that, it continued with the rejecting of God the Son and then finally after that, rejecting God the Holy Spirit and sin reached the pinnacle of an Irreversible Punitive Judgment.
The history of the divided Kingdom started the end of Israel’s unique leadership role in the world. The exiled nation itself was a period of a subordinate-dispensation discipline. The rule of the Gentiles occurred. This was the time they were rejecting God the Father’s authority and leadership (Mal. 1 to 4, (note) verse 1:6).
All the minor dispensations of the kings’ rule were still subordinate. God was still dealing with the children of promise in the Dispensation of Promise. The works of Jesus Christ and the rejection of the Holy Spirit were yet to be complete.
Their rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ was followed by the offer to repent in chapter three of Acts. This records the continuous offer of the leadership stewardship to Israel. This offer was given until He withdrew it at the end of Acts 7. The last opportunity to repent continues in the Dispensation of Promise until the end of Act 7. Their final rejection of the Holy Spirit represented their final opportunity for repentance.Acts 7:51-60: “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it. ”When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep” (died).
The prophesied Tribulation period would have begun at Acts 7. Yet, God had another dispensation planned, the Mystery dispensation. This was a mystery plan that would take place before the 70th week of Daniel.
The history of the conquest of the northern 10 Israelite tribes by the Assyrians was a subordinate-dispensation. This subordinate-dispensation did not change the Dispensation of Promise; it only produced a subordinate administration under Gentile oppression.
The history of the conquest of the southern two tribes of Judah was brought about by their sins. The Babylonians also created a subordinate-dispensation. The historical events for Israel were synchronizing the truth of Jehovah God with faulty worship that brought about chastisement. Their sin of idolatrous worship and evil practices brought about discipline, these sins bought them to the fruits of their behavior.
Our LORD offered them restitution upon repentance, but only partial repentance occurred despite godly men like Nehemiah and Ezra urging all to repent. They led the Nation in rebuilding their city and the Temple. However, oppression from the Gentiles continued from the Greeks through to the Roman Empire’s rule and up to the Mystery Dispensation.
The restoration was all in the sovereign plan of God in bringing the Lord Jesus Christ into the world. Our Lord Jesus Christ provided redemption and activated the New Covenant. God provided for humanity what they could not provide for themselves.
From the beginning of the Times of the Gentiles, God was preserving His chosen Nation. His chosen Nation was to complete the fulfilling of the Redemptive Covenant. There was no Major Dispensational change effected by the incarnation. Remember, a covenant is not a Dispensation, and a Dispensation is not a covenant.
A case could be made and rightfully so that a subordinate-dispensation occurred when Israel returned to the Promised Land from captivity. However, as has been pointed out, this was not a Major Dispensation; it was only a subordinate one within the Dispensation of Promise.
The chosen people of God are still the primary focus of historical events. During the Dispensation of Promise, they were responsible for bringing about the Messiah, the Savior, our LORD Jesus Christ, to earth. Ever since Abraham, Israel received a promise to be the covenant stewards of the world and someday after the Rapture their promise will find completion.
The economic history of Roman rule over Israel reveals the fulfillment of the incarnation of God eternal, the LORD Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ's first appearance was in human form. As God in the flesh, He took upon flesh to provide what humanity could not do for themselves. The cost was at God's expense to fulfill the just payment of redemption (Heb. 1:1-4).Philippians 2:5-8: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
Humanity could not provide for themselves holiness because of their depraved, sinful nature. God provided this requirement for anyone who receives the pardon. This pardon provides forgiveness from the eternal damnation for those who inherit it and participate in it. Our LORD Jesus fulfilled the justice required for those who receive Him as LORD and Savior.
The Redeemer’s provision occurred during the Dispensation of Promise. God promised Abraham and his dependents’ custodianship (stewards, caretakers) for the coming of the Savior. This is the prophetic fulfillment extended to all humanity through the New Covenant in Jesus Christ (Gen. 3:15). The covenant’s fulfillment period is not a new dispensation, but an event happening within the dispensation relating to the New Covenant promised to Israel as custodians for the world (Matt. 1, Rom. 5).
In the history of the birth and life of Christ Jesus, there was no change of dispensation. However, the rejection of the Son of God became quite evident. The leaders of the Nation of Israel’s spiritual leadership rejected the truth of the incarnate God, their very Messiah Savior.John 1:10-12: “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own (the chosen nation Israel), and His own did not receive Him. But, as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”
The eternal hope for all readers is that they do not make the same rejection. Israel made the second significant major rejection in the Dispensation of Promise. They crucified the LORD and refused to repent.
The history of the implementation of the New Covenant came with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit starting at Pentecost.
The implementation of the New Covenant was not a subordinate-dispensation. God in His foreknowledge knew that the Nation would reject their stewardship and that they would not repent. Their last sin was the rejection of the Holy Spirit that set the stage for the tribulation judgment for the Dispensation of Promise.
This could not happen until the New Covenant’s implementation occurred as recorded in Acts 2. One cannot reject something before it is given. The execution of the new Covenant was not a change in dispensations but was the fulfillment of the Redemptive Covenant promised in the Dispensation of Promise.
The New Covenant promise was given to Israel so they would reach the world with the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The New Covenant was not a new dispensation, but the empowering of the work of the LORD Jesus Christ fulfilling the New Covenant in the Dispensation of Promise. Remember a covenant is within the operation of a Dispensation, which carries out the bond covenant. They were to be stewards, of the gospel message in the Promise Dispensation, however they failed.
The implementation took place at Pentecost, along with the Gospel of repentance that was addressed through the preaching of the New Covenant. Implementation did not signal the change of the Dispensation of Promise. Read chapter one through chapter seven of Acts, which helps to explain.
However, with their rejection of their calling and God, the Holy Spirit’s judgment came. The transition into the prophesied Tribulation should have happened because of Israel’s rejection. Israel’s consequences were prophesied and recorded in the book of Daniel. The book of Daniel foretells events of the prophesied seventy weeks, and within it, the giving of the historical order of future events.
However, instead of going into the transition to the earthly Dispensation of the Kingdom, God's Mystery Transition of equality began. The Dispensation of Grace began in infancy. The chosen people are still the special people of God even though the dispensation today overlays it as part of the punitive Judgment on the Nation of Israel for the Dispensation of Promise (Rom. 11). Gentiles will continue to oppress them until The Battle of Armageddon is completed. This battle will complete the period called the Times of the Gentiles (Lk 21:24).
The beginning of the Mystery dispensation resulted in the last two operating events of the former Major Dispensation to take place. It ended with the transition and the Irreversible Punitive Judgment on Israel (Rom. 16:25, Eph. 3:9, Col. 1:25-26).
The Irreversible Punitive Judgment on the Nation of Israel resulted in the ending of the Dispensation of Promise. They lost their leadership at this time, resulting in the overlaying by the Dispensation of Equality (also called the Dispensation of Grace).
Dispensationalists do not consistently agree about when the Nation of Israel experienced this overlaying.
The Nation of Israel in the Dispensation of Promise experienced the Mystery Dispensation overlaying it because of their failures. Some say, the start the Dispensation of Grace with the birth of Christ Jesus (Matt. 1). Some say it began with the “woes” in Matthew 23, and still others say it began at Peter's confession (Matt. 16:18).
Others believe it was at the cross, others at the beginning of Acts 2, and still others say it began in the middle portion of Acts (9 or 13) or at the end of Acts 28. Regardless, there is no consistency of agreement from dispensationalists on the timing of the overlay.
This inconsistency reveals a lack of applying a dispensation's workings correctly that includes the Seven Operating Keys. This underscores the importance of the consistency that comes from the understanding of Major Dispensations and their relation to their Operating Keys.
God is not a God of confusion! Humanity only finds confusion because of incomplete understanding. The Dispensation of Grace started with our Lord Jesus standing at the stoning of Stephen, Acts 7:51-60.
This act began the transition and Irreversible Punitive Judgment on the Dispensation of Promise. However, God, in His sovereign foreknowledge and eternal plan, planned to save gentiles and as such He revealed the Mystery Dispensation of Equality.
The stoning was the Nation of Israel’s final rejection, the rejection of God the Holy Spirit. Their rejection started a new Major Dispensation in infancy, the Dispensation of Grace. All humanity is now on an equal basis because of the finished works of the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 11).
The Fifth Major Dispensation: Irreversible Punitive Judgment was placed on the Nation of Israel and its people because they committed the unpardonable sin against the Holy Spirit (Matt. 12:31-32, note that verse 32, which says “In this age” referring to the historical Acts Period and that “in the age to come” refers to the Dispensation of Grace).
The unpardonable sin event of Acts 7 happened somewhere between AD 34 and AD 40. The transition events occurred from AD 40 to AD 70 and ended with the destruction of Israel’s Temple in AD 70. The Dispensation of Grace came into full operation at this time when Israel lost its stewardship in the Acts period.
Not all of the promises given to Abraham were fulfilled at this time. However, a new generation of Jewish believers going into the future would now make up the New Nation of Israel. Following the Dispensation of Grace, Israel will have the fulfillment of the promises made to them under the Abrahamic Covenant (Rev. 1 to 7).
The Dispensation of Grace or Equality has many subordinate-dispensations in its history. The following is an outline of events that have happened. There are also subordinate-dispensations within the subordinate dispensations of today.
God in Scripture does not record the specific events of each nation in detail. The stewardship has stayed the same through the events in today’s dispensation. Besides, the New Covenant given to humanity is applied on an equal basis today, and this is according to the Dispensation of Grace as recorded in the Scriptures.
The Absolute Universal Principles do not change because they come from God and finding completion in Scripture. The entire Bible gives the absolute worldwide spiritual responsibility for the transformation. In His Word, there are many examples of how God expects humanity to live.
The Bible shows all humanity their need for Him through the revelation of His universal truths and of how to live morally. God’s Word is perfect and reveals to humanity their imperfections. The Bible explains how imperfect humans are, and in great need of God the Savior, Jesus Christ. The Bible expresses how God’s preservation continues to work and it reveals how much He loves His creation. As believers live, the Bible reveals the eternal hope found only in God the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit confirms it to our spirit (Eph. 1:12-14, Jn. 14-17).1 Corinthians 13: 11-12: “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, (before the Bible was canonized and its completion) but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.”
Hebrews 5: 12-14: “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
The writings of the Apostle Paul gave the exact truths for this dispensation. “All Scripture is for us, but all was not written to us” (1 Cor. 10).
2 Timothy 3:16-17: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
God ordained the Apostle Paul to be today’s apostle. Paul is the apostle for the Equality Dispensation for all humanity today:
Acts 9 and Romans 11:13”: “For I Paul speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,”
1 Timothy 2:7: “for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.”
2 Timothy 1:11: “to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.”
Paul, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, authored thirteen of the New Testament books. He may have written fourteen if one also considers the book of Hebrews.
Following is the history of today’s subordinate-minor dispensations after the era of our LORD’s incarnation. It would take another book to write about any one of the following in full. Also, there could be many more depending on what country one examines. There are many subordinate-dispensations within today’s Major Dispensation (The Dispensation of Grace or Equality).
On pg. 405
Historical Timeline from the Apostles to the Reformation, AD 0 - 1901
0-96 - The New Testament books are lived and written (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Philemon, Titus, Hebrews, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, Jude, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and Revelation).
306 - 337 - The Roman Catholic Church makes the claim that it began with Peter’s confession. The Confession of “who” Christ was in Matthew 16:13-17.
However, the truth is that the organized church became the Roman Catholic Church under Emperor Constantine. After Constantine’s conversion to Christianity, he made the empire a religious state, and he forced nonbelievers into the religious system. He mandated that they convert or die. However, true conversion is not forced, for it comes from God, not from a depraved human institution.
Ever since our Lord Jesus Christ, there have been those who have held to the true salvation. That is that true salvation is not a religion. They understand that transformation is an individual and personal spiritual transaction.
Salvation is directly between Jesus Christ and an individual. The person must accept God’s provision that He accomplished in Christ to receive eternal salvation (Eph. 1:13, 2:8-9, Jn. 4:10, 21-24, Jn 17, 1 Jn. 5:9-14, Rom. 10:9-13).
337- 407 - John Chrysostom and Ambrose of Milan lived as preachers and teachers of God’s word.
365 - The canon of scripture is confirmed and accepted.1 Corinthians 13:8-10: “For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.” Also, see 2 Timothy 3:16, and 2 Peter 1:20-21.
The writing of God’s truths by the inspired authors was perfect from the beginning. However, the collection and its acceptance was a progressive confirmation.
1291 - Religious crusades are sanctioned along with military campaigns, ordered by the Pope, who ordered the takeover of the land of Israel.
1440 - 1453 - A German, Johannes Gutenberg, invented the Gutenberg Press. The press resulted in a large quantity of the printing of the Gutenberg Bible.
1492 - Columbus is credited for the discovery of the continent of America. Christianity grew on its shores, as many would leave Europe out of personal conscience to avoid persecution. They sought freedom of belief and practice in the new continent.
1090 - 1498 - Pre-reformers sought to organize churches around Biblical truths (Arnold of Bresda, Peter de Bruis, Peter Waldo, Valdo or Waldes, John Wycliffe, Jan Hus, and Girolamo Savonarola AD 1452- 1498. All of them experienced oppression at the hands of the Roman Catholic Church and many were violently killed as heretics.
1570 - 1612 - John Smyth preaches and evangelizes.
1517 - 1648 - The Reformers, including Martin Luther, John Calvin, and others attempt to reform the Roman Catholic Church. They give birth to the Protestant Reformation. The spreading of protestant reforms over Europe develops Lutheranism, Anglicanism, Calvinism, and Arminianism. In addition, during this period, there were groups like the Anabaptists who grew in number and were not part of the Protestant reformers.
300 Years of Famous Preachers and Evangelists:
1. 1603 - 1683 - Rodger Williams
2. 1615 - 1691 - Richard Baxter
3. 1714 - 1770 - George Whitefield
4. 1776 - The United States patterns its laws after Judeo-Christian values.
5. 1725 - 1807 - John Newton
6. 1759 - 1836 - Charles Simeon
7. 1775 - 1863 - Lyman Beecher
8. 1792 - 1875 - Charles Finney
9. 1834 - 1892 - Charles Haddon Spurgeon
10. 1837 - 1899 - Dwight L. Moody
11. 1862 - 1935 - Billy Sunday
12. 1862 - 1937 - Leopold Hoffman Cohn
13. 1874 - 1917 - Oswald Chambers
From 1902 - 2021: Key events to today.
1902 - Large-scale manufacturing of affordable automobiles coincides with declining church attendance.
1914 - World War 1 also called the Great War begins in Europe. This war was the first global conflict that influenced the nature of future wars. Chemical weapons and mass bombings were first used and have been developed further since. The war lasting until 1918 and during the conflict, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire fought against Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Romania, Japan, and the United States.
1920 – Medium giants, Television and telecommunications began and are continuously developed up to the present.
1932 - 2010 - Martin Rosen (preacher and evangelist)
1918 - 2018 - Evangelist Billy Graham
1939 - World War 2, a global conflict, begins. It is the only war where nuclear weapons are used. It will be the deadliest conflict in human history. September 1940, Japan, and Italy become allies of Germany with the signing of the Tripartite Pact in Berlin.
The war resulted in 50 million to 70 million fatalities because of Hitler. Some 75 million people died in World War 2. It is estimated that 11 to 17 million civilians and 33 to 47 million military soldiers died. They directly or indirectly died, as a result, of Nazi ideological policies.
Hitler of Germany in WW2 killed Six million Jews through systematic genocide. They were scattered throughout the world. They had been scattered from the homeland since the first century. Six million Jews were living in other nations. The Jewish nation would become a nation again after the war, a privilege it had not held since the first century.
1931 - 1934 - Formation of intergovernmental organizations began. The Commonwealth of Nations, the League of Nations.
1945 –The United Nations, an intergovernmental organization, is born as a global unification organization that has been developing and promoting a one world Government. Forming a religion of authority over the God of the Bible.The Atlantic Charter was a stepping-stone into the creation of the United Nations. Five world federalist organizations merged in 1947, forming the United World Federalists, Inc., later renamed World Federalists-USA. The two groups (United Nations and international organizations) joined as Citizens for Global Solutions (CGS) in 2003. UN religion expert wants world religions to bow to UN ideology.
1948 - The Nation of Israel becomes an independent state. Jewish people return to the land promised to them by God.
1960 - 1970 – The internet, a global distribution network, develops along with home computers in 1965. Marketed in 1977 to the present were the handheld computers with microcomputers for homes and phones.
1973 – The United States makes abortion legally acceptable with the passing of the Supreme Court decision Roe vs. Wade. Women now became their “own” judges with the right to kill their babies before birth.
1968 - The “Jesus People” and “hippies” was the movements that changed society’s norms. They were a Charismatic subculture promoting extra-Biblical revelation and emotional opposition contrary to Biblical truths.
This movement had a weak theology called the “love movement.” The Jesus movement brought Christian rock and metal music into local assemblies. They loosed the mores of dress and ethics as they pertained to the worship of God. This resulted in simplifying or reducing the intellectual content of tradition in order to make it accessible to many people by compromising tradition.
Hippies and the Jesus people were a subculture, being much alike (music, drugs, communal living, and free love relationships without marriage).
In the decade that followed, people began to live together before marriage in “cohabitation” relationships. This resulted in the breakdown of the marriage absolutes.
Also, homosexuality and transgender relationships became acceptable to society. All these affected Biblical truths by synchronizing and violating moral absolutes with evil.
The Absolute Universal Truths of the Word of God along with His eternal holiness, and righteousness, do not change. A holy God will justly punish humanity for its evil actions (Rev. 20:11-15, Heb. 9:27, Rom. 1).
1981 - Roman Catholicism declares that when the first president is inaugurated into office in front of the Washington Monument (an obelisk), they would consider the United States a Roman Catholic country.
The ceremony observed from the National Mall would send a specific signal or message that the country is considered a Roman Catholic. Ronald Reagan was the first president inaugurated there.
Ronald Reagan also repealed a federal law made in 1868 that prohibited the expenditure of funding a U.S. embassy to the Vatican.
The National Park Service installed a stone in the Obelisk monument in 1982. The installation occurred during the Ronald Reagan presidency. In 1854, a group called the “Know-Nothings” stole the first stone. They were a catholic opposition group.
The stone, called the Pope’s Stone, is a gift from Pope Pius IX and The Vatican. It is a three-foot slab of costly variegated marble. It was originally from the ruins of a pagan temple, the Temple of Concord in Rome in the ancient city of Rome. It refers to a series of shrines or temples dedicated to the Roman goddess Concordia.
1984 - Ronald Reagan sends the first ambassador to the Vatican. The United States still has an ambassador there.
The United States could be the mystery Babylon, mentioned in Revelation chapters 17 and 18, Daniel 7:4, cf. and in Revelation 9:13-21, 12:4, and 12:13-14.
1990 - The implementation of Radio-frequency identification (RFID) into one’s body becomes available. The RFID chip is a unique implanted chip that identifies items. It has an identification number that carries data about the person whom it is implanted.
This chip could be programed for government control as the marking device to mark individuals spoken about in the book of Revelation (Rev. 13-14, 15:2, 16:2, 19:20, 20:4).
To review, The Time of the Gentiles began with during the captivity period of the divided Kingdom of the Nation of Israel. It continued through the Roman Empire (27 BC - AD 476) and Byzantine Empire (AD 330 – AD 1453).
Note: In AD 330, Constantine founded the new capital of the Roman Empire. The periods called Persian, Rashidun, Umayyad, Abbasid, Fatimid, Seljug, crusaders, Ayyubid, Mamluk, Ottoman, British, and Jordon followed it.
During these periods, the Nation of Israel has been scattered across the world. The Mystery Dispensation overlays God’s prophetic program for Israel at this time and will until the Rapture of today’s dispensation.
God will then continue with Israel, picking up from the time He laid them aside as the primary stewards. God’s plan with the Nation of Israel’s stewardship and their restoring will occur after the overlay. The Lord Jesus’ coming in the clouds will end the Major Dispensation of today with the Rapture of the Body of Christ.
Each of these periods, since the overlay, has had a governmental dispensation within them. They are all subordinate to God’s plan inside the Major Dispensation of Grace. They do not meet the definition of any Major Dispensation.
Today, Israel is back in its land, deeded to them by God (AD 1948). This event is possibly setting the stage for the end of the Dispensation of Grace.
The prophecies of the latter times of the Dispensation of Grace are recorded in Romans 11, 1 Timothy 4:13, and 2 Timothy 3:1-7. These passages describe the failure of today’s dispensation. This failure will bring about the transition that ends today’s dispensation.
2001 – On September 11 a Muslim Islamic terrorist group destroyed the “Twin Towers” of the World Trade Center in New York City by flying two airplanes into the towers.
The Muslim Koran justifies the killing of Jews and Christians. Muslims claim they are a religion of peace. In 2004-2007, the ISIS began an Islamic jihad group. They beheaded and killed any civilian or military person who opposed them.
The government in the book of Revelation will conduct the same vicious executions. It will execute those who refuse his mark called the Mark of the Beast. In 2015, there were 50 Muslim-majority countries. Around 62% of the world’s Muslims live in the Asia-Pacific region.
2008 - 2016 - President Barack Obama declares that the United States is no longer a Christian nation. He caters to the Muslim religion.
However, the statistics state that the United States has the largest Christian population. The largest group found is in the United States, followed by Brazil and Mexico. The word Christian is by name only. Those who are truly followers of Christ are converted and transformed believers.2018 - United Religions was founded and registered in Switzerland headquarters in Geneva (Opposition to the God of the Bible). United Religions brings together spiritual leaders and representatives of world religions to develop international cooperation and strengthen the values of justice, tolerance, peace and respect in accordance to human definitions. United Religions envisions a planet where people coexist peacefully with others and with nature. The world is taking notice of this organization, and since founded, there has seen an explosion of growth and recognition for its work. This all leading to a one world religion of man’s making (Research: United Nations and United Religion - Human Rights UN Office of the High Commission).
2018 - The United States declares Jerusalem to be the Capital of Israel under President Donald A. Trump. The United States Embassy is moved to Jerusalem.
2019 - The Nation of Israel takes back The Golan Heights region, which is recognized as belonging to Israel by the United States under President Donald Trump.
2020 - Global control stems from the Coronavirus crisis (Covid-19). There is unrest in the world as the seeds of a one world government over the world’s population develops.2020-2022 – Coronavirus 19 endemic, face-masks, government control with worldwide participation ramifications (leading to world government control).
There are many subordinate-dispensations in the Dispensation of Grace. The subordinate-dispensations are all subservient to the spiritual rules and laws of God.
Spiritual truths can be found today in the Biblical teaching of today’s dispensation through the Pauline writings from Romans through Titus, including possibly Hebrews.
No matter what country or government humanity is under, God will judge us according to His Absolute Universal Truths of the Bible (John 5:47, 12:48, Rev. 11:18. Ps.119).Note: All Scripture is essential to illuminate the universal truths and laws of God. It would be helpful for everyone to read all of the Scripture. I recommend starting with Paul’s writings, then John, Matthew, Mark, Luke, followed by James through Revelation. Then go back and start reading from Genesis. Be sure to include the books of Psalms and Proverbs to inspire you.
Remember that when reading the Old Testament (Genesis through Malachi) whenever the word LORD is capitalized, it refers to Yahweh. Yahweh was the mediator role of Jesus Christ before His incarnation (see the names of Jesus in the forward for more information).
The history of the prophesied Tribulation period ends with Christ Jesus’ second coming to reign and with the setting up of His earthly Kingdom.
The transition into the rein of Christ includes the prophetic seven-year tribulation period or the 70th week of Daniel. This transition takes place from the failure of the Dispensation of Grace to the full operation of the earthly kingdom, and into the "Millennial Kingdom" reign of Christ where Israel's stewardship will be restored.
Remember, when a dispensation is disappearing, a new one is taking full control. This is a key of the Major Dispensations and it is one of the Key Fundamental Operating Principles of the Major Dispensation’s change.
The Dispensation of Grace for believers will end with the Rapture. Those living at the time of the Rapture who rejected the Gospel of Grace will be condemned and will go into the tribulation period.
Unbelievers who rejected the Gospel will all die before, or in The Battle of Armageddon. The tribulation period is not a Major Dispensation or a subordinate-dispensation. This event is a Fundamental Operating Principle of a Major Dispensational transition. No one has ever heard anyone making a Dispensation or subordinate-dispensation out of the tribulation.
For example, let us say there is a subordinate-dispensation, an administration called the Mystery Babylon dispensation. Then there would be another subordinate-dispensation controlled by the Anti-Christ. He would force the Mark of the Beast on humanity through the governing of a one-world government.
The mystery Babylon and the antichrist still do not qualify as Major Dispensations. This time relates to the transition to the Major Dispensation but is not a new dispensation. The New Dispensation that is coming into focus is the sixth Major Dispensation (the Dispensation of the Kingdom). The one that is ending is the Dispensation of Grace, which ends with the final destruction of non-believers from the Dispensation of Grace.
The Sixth Major Dispensation: There will be many subordinate-dispensations to this earthly Major Dispensation. The Lord Jesus Christ will be the world ruler here on earth. The Dispensation of the Kingdom is a Major Dispensation. In it, Christ will administer the world’s governments. The redeemed of other ages will be stewards, ruling with Him as subordinates. Those living redeemed stewards will be under Christ’s rule. They will rule throughout the earth and heaven, which will be established under Christ’s rule.
Along with Israel, the redeemed who are in their natural physical bodies will rule under Christ. Together they will receive the promises made to Abraham (Eph. 2). The redeemed of all ages with those in their physical bodies will rule with Christ (Rom. 11, 1 Cor. 6:1-3).
Every government at this time will be responsible for governing as Christ commands. There will exist subordinate dispensations of the world but all will be under the Dispensation of the Kingdom, which is ruled by Messiah Jesus. There will be a very long longevity of life, and many will live the full 1,000 years before the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time begins.
The Seventh Major Dispensation: This is the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time. In it is eternity where there is no evil. No more evil beings will ever cause defilement again.
There will be no beings committing evil. None will fail in their trust or be disobedient to God.
While the operation of the Eternal dispensation takes place any subordinate-dispensational stewardships will forever be under the Major fundamental dispensation, the Fullness of The time also called the Kingdom of God (see the chart at the end of this chapter for more information).
>>> I hope to see you there! <<<<<
On pg. 415Summary and Takeaway Truths
- Subordinate-dispensations represent one of the main obstacles for non-dispensationalists. Dispensationalists ignore the subordinate truths in categorizing their schematic(s). All subordinate dispensations are within the Seven Majors.
- Subordinate-dispensations are subservient to the Seven Major Dispensations. They are ordained governmental dispensations, also appointed by God, and they form the primary leadership to the local rulers under the Major Dispensation. The subordinates are made-up of all governments, believers, and non-believers ordained by God. Subordinate-dispensations are the governing dispensations under Major Dispensations.
- Some dispensations that theologians have defined as Major Dispensations are not. The one that creates the most controversy is the Mosaic Law, along with the Mosaic Covenant. The Mosaic Law was the beginning of a subordinate-dispensation, not a Major. God never quit working with the Nation of Israel. The Mosaic Law additions were for the further development of His chosen nation dispensationally.
On pg. 416
Practical Applications for Life
- Many miss the Seven Fundamental Operating Keys in each Major Dispensation. They fail in considering them when reviewing the Major Dispensations. This is important because it is most likely why they may have two, three, four, or more dispensations in addition to the actual seven. They are in reality diagramming and including subordinate-dispensations in the total count, which is wrong.
- Ensure that you are familiar with all Seven Operational Principles so you can understand why a subordinate-dispensation is not a Major Dispensation.
- Knowing the Biblical truths that this study has presented will keep you from falling into error and will give you a full understanding of dispensations.
Philippians 3:13-15: “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore, let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.”
On pg. 417
Chart - Dispensation of the Fullness of Time
Before leaving you may want to print this document, and review it often. Print
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
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Chapters Forward / Goals - Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12.
On pg. 418
Guiding Questions for Further Study:Ask yourself these questions as you study the Dispensations:
1. Are the laws given, by humanity or by God?
2. To which dispensation were they written for obedience to and for what purpose?
3. Who are the ones written for compliance?
4. Who are the stewards of the laws? (Those who assure compliance and propagation).
5. How was it beneficial to certain people groups? Do other people groups benefit? Why or why not? How was it beneficial to the establishment of the economy?
6. Is the law a modified law from previous dispensations?
7. What is a universal law, and what is a non-universal law? How are they different?
8. Is this a brand new law?
9. What is the universal spiritual truth of the law that one should learn for today? For example, is it to produce holiness, righteousness, or judicial judgment?
10. How are we to enact it in our present dispensation? Why are we to endorse it?
11. What did our Lord Jesus Christ say in the Gospels that would modify the law? Did he demonstrate or clarify obedience to the law?
12. Does keeping the law bring or give eternal salvation? Does it show or give sanctification, why or why not? There are some important passages that help answer these questions (Rom. 3:20, 24, 28, 4, 10:9:13, 13:8-10, Matt. 22:36-38, 39-40, Eph. 2:8-10, Tit. 3:1-11, 1 Jn. 5:9-14, Jn. 1:10-14.
13. What changes took place regarding the implementing of the New Covenant in the works with humanity? How does the dispensation today relate to the New Covenant (Eph. 1-3, Col. 1-3)?
Chapters Forward / Goals - Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12.
On pg. 421
Jewish Laws, Mitzvot, Mishnah, Torah, Talmud:Agriculture and Animal Husbandry: Positive (Lev. 19:19, 23-24), Negative (Deut. 22:9), General (Deut. 22:10).
Animals for Consumption: General (Lev. 11:2, 9, 21, 17:13, 27:21, Deut. 12:21, 14:11, 18:3-4, 22:7).
Business Practices: General (Lev. 19:35-36, 25:14, 37, Ex. 22:24, Deut. 23:20, 24:6, 10, 12-13, 17, 25:13-14).
Clothing: Positive (Deut. 22:5, 11).
Community: (Deut. 13:15, 16:18, 17:11, 15, 18:15, 19:3, 19, 21:4, 22:8).
Court and Judicial Procedure: Positive (Ex. 21:33-36, 22:4-9, 23:2; Lev. 5:1, 19:15, Deut. 13:15, 16:18, 17:11), Negative (Ex. 23:2, 7, Num. 35:12, 30), General (Ex. 20:13, 22:27, 23:1, 3, 6, 8, Lev. 19:15, 25:14, Num. 27:8-11, Deut. 1:17, 17:11, 19:15, Deut. 24:16-17).
Criminal Laws: General (Ex. 20:13-14, Lev. 19:11, Deut. 5:18, Num. 15:39).
Dietary Laws: Positive (Lev. 11:2, 9, 21, Deut. 14:11), Negative (Ex. 21:28), General (Gen. 32:33, Ex. 22:30, 23:19, 34:26, Lev. 7:23, 26, 11:4, 11, 13, 41- 44, 46, 17:13, 19:26, 22:28, Deut. 12:21, 23, 14:19, 21, 21:20, 22:6-7).
Donations to the Temple: General (Ex. 23:19, Lev. 5:16, 19:10, 19, 19:9, 24, 27:2-8, 11, 14, 16, 30, Num. 15:20, 18:26, Deut. 14:22, 28, 18:4, 24:19, 26:5, 13).
Employees, Servants and Slaves: Positive (Ex. 21:2-6, 8-9, 21:8-9, Lev. 25:46, Deut. 15:14), Negative (Ex. 21:8, Lev. 25:39, 42-43, 53, Deut. 15:13, 23:16-17), General (Lev. 19:13, Deut. 23:25-26, 24:15, 25:4).
Family, Marriage, and Divorce: Positive (Num. 5:15, 30, Deut. 22:19, 24:1, 25) Negative (Deut. 22:18-19, 29, 23:4, 8-9, 24:1, 5, 9), General (Gen/ 1:28, 17:10, Ex. 20:12, 21:10, 15, 17, 22:15, Lev. 12:3, 19:3, 32, Deut. 21:11, 23:2-3, 18, 24:1, 4, 25:5, 7-9).
Festivals: General (Ex. 12:2, 15-16, 18, 13:8, 20:8, 23:12, Lev. 23:24, 35-36, 40, 42, Num. 29:1, Deut. 16:1, 29).
Firstborn: General (Ex. 13:13, 34:20, Num. 18:15, 17).
Forbidden Sexual Relations: General (Lev. 18:6-24, Deut. 22:27).
God: Negative (Ex. 22:27-28, Lev. 24:16, Deut. 6:4-5, 13, 16), General (Ex. 20:2-3, 23:25, Lev. 22:32, Deut. 5:6, 6:4-5, 13, 10:20, 28:9, 11:13, 13:5).
Idolatry, Idolaters and Idolatrous Practices: Positive (Deut. 12:2-3, 13:16-17), Negative (Ex. 22:17, 23:33-32, Lev. 18:21, Deut. 13:9, 17, 18, 16:21), General (Ex. 20:4-5, 20, 23:13, 34:17, Deut. 7:2, 25-26, 13:4, 9, 12, 14:1, 16:22, 18:10-11, 20; 20:17, 25:17, 19, 32:38, Lev. 18:3, 19:4, 27-28, 31, 20:23).
Injuries and Damages: Positive (Deut. 25:12), Negative (Deut. 25:12), General (Deut. 22:8, 27).
Judicial: General (Ex. 21:16, 20, Lev. 20:14, Num. 35:25, Deut. 21:22-23, 22:24, 25:2).
King: Positive (Deut. 17:18), Negative (Deut. 17:15-17, 22:27).
Kohanim and Levites: Positive (Num. 18:3-7, 23, 35:2, Deut. 18:1, 6-8), Negative (Ex. 28:2, 32, Lev. 21:11, 13-15, 17, 23, 22:2-3, Num. 5:2-3, Lev. 16:2, Deut. 18:1), General (Lev. 21:1-3, 6-8, Num. 6:23, 15:20).
Lepers and Leprosy: Positive (Lev. 14:1-7, 9), Negative (Deut. 24:8, Lev. 13:33)
Love and “Brotherhood”: General (Ex. 23:5, Lev. 19:14, 16-18, 25:17, 9:14, Deut. 22:4).The Mitzvot: These are commandments or laws are under the Dispensation of Promise. Jewish tradition teaches that there are 613 commandments or Laws. The follow terms define the Jewish lexis of laws:
Gemara is the section of the Talmud and consists primarily of commentary on the Mishnah.
Mitzvot: Any of the collection of 613 commandments or precepts in the Bible (additional ones of rabbinic origin relate chiefly to the religious and the moral conduct of Jews).Mishnah: The collection of oral laws compiled about AD 200 by Rabbi Judah ha Nasi. They form the first part of the Talmud.
Torah: The entire body is of Jewish religious literature, law, and teaching contained chiefly in the Old Testament and the Talmud.
Talmud: The collection of Jewish law and tradition consisting of the Mishnah and the Gemara (being either an edition produced in Palestine AD 400 or the larger, more important one made in Babylonia AD 500).
Nazarites: Positive (Num. 6:5, 9), Negative (Num. 6:3-7).
Prayer and Blessings: General (Ex. 23:25, Lev. 26:1, Deut. 6:7-8, 13).
Priests, Cohanim, (priestly family), and Temple: General (Ex. 25:8, 30, 28:2, 27:21, 30:7, 19, 31, Lev. 6:3, 6, 19:30, 21:2-3, 8, 13, Num. 5:2, 6:23, 34, 7:9, 18:4, 23, Deut. 18:6-8).
Poor and Unfortunate: Positive (Lev. 19:9-10, Deut. 24:19-21), Negative (Lev. 19:9-10, 23:22, Deut. 24:19-20), General (Ex. 22:21, Deut. 15:7, 11).
Property and Property Rights: Positive (Lev. 25:29), Negative (Lev. 25:23, 34), General (Lev. 5:23, 19:11, Deut. 17:16, 19:14, 22:1, 3).
Punishment and Restitution: Positive (Ex. 21:16, 18-20, 22:1, 15-16, Lev. 20:10, 14, 26:25, Num. 35:25, Deut. 19, 21:4, 22-23, 22:24, 28-29, 25:2-3), Negative (Ex. 35:3, Num. 35:31-32, Deut. 19:13, 21:4, 23, 22:26, 29).
Prophecy: Positive (Deut. 18:15, 20), Negative (Deut. 18:22).
Ritual Purity and Impurity: Positive (Lev. 11:8, 29-30, 34, 39, Lev. 12:2-5, 13:2-49, 45-49, 14:2, 9, 34-46, 15:1-16, 19-27, Num. 19:2-9, 11-16, 19-22).
Sabbatical and Jubilee Years: Positive (Lev. 25:8-10, 24, Deut. 31:12), Negative (Lev. 25:4-5, 11), General (Ex. 23:11, 34:21, Lev. 25:2, 8-10, 24, Deut. 15:2-3, 9).
Sacrifices and Offerings: Positive (Ex. 12:6, 8, 13:2, 23:19, 29:33, Lev. 1:2-3, 2:1, 11, 13, 3:1, 4:13, 27-28, 5:1-11, 15, 17-19, 6:9, 13, 18, 7:1, 11, 17, 19, 12:6, 14:10, 15:13-15, 28-30, 16:3-34, 22:21, 27-28, 23:10, 14, 17-20, 36, 27:2-8, 10-13, 16-24, 27-33, 34:20, 23, Num. 5:6-7, 9:11, 10:9-10, 28:3, 9, 11, 26-27, 29:1-8, 12-38, Deut. 12:5-6, 14-15, 16:14, 26:5-10), Negative (Ex. 12:9-10, 43, 45-46, 48, 23:15, 18, 29:33, Lev. 2:13, 5:8, 11, 6:10, 16, 23, 7:18-20, 10:14, 22:12, 17:3-4, 19:8, 22:20-22, 24-25, 30, 27:10, 26, 28, Num. 5:15, Deut. 12:13, 17, 26, 14:3, 15:19, 16:4, 17:1, 23:19), General (Ex. 13:2, Lev. 23:14, Num. 5:6-7, Deut. 15:19).
Signs and Symbols: General (Gen. 17:12, Lev. 12:3, Num. 15:38, Deut. 6:8-9).
Slaves: General (Ex. 21:2, 8, Lev. 25:46).
Social: General (Ex. 22:24-25, 23:4-5, Lev. 5:23, 19:17-18, 36, Deut. 10:19, 15:8, 14, 22:1, 4, 23:1, 21, 25, 24:13, 15).
Temple, the Sanctuary, and Sacred Objects: Positive (Ex. 25:8, 30, 27:21, 30:7, 19, Lev. 5:16, Num. 7:9, 9:11, 10:9-10, 18:2), Negative (Ex. 20:23, 25:15, 28:28, 30:9, Lev. 6:6, 10:6, 7, 9-11, Num. 9:12, 18:5), General (Ex. 30:32-33, 37, Deut. 12:2-4, Lev. 19:30).
Times and Seasons: Positive (Ex. 12:2, 23:14, Deut. 16:16), General (Ex. 16:29, 20:8, 10, 23:12, 12:15-20, 13:3, 7-8, 34:21, Lev. 23:15, 21, 24-25, 27, 29, 31-32, 35-36, 40, 42, Num. 29:1, Deut. 16:3, 14).
Torah: General (Lev. 19:32, Num. 15:38, Deut. 6:7, 8-9, 10:20, 13:1, 8:10, 17:18, 31:12, 19).
Torts, Offences: General (Ex. 21:18, 28, 33, 37, 22:4-6, 8-9, 13, Lev. 25:14, Deut. 25:12, Num. 27:8).
Treatment of Gentiles: Positive (Deut. 15:3, 23:21), General (Ex. 22:20, Deut. 7:3, 10:19).
T’rumah, Tithes and Taxes: Positive (Ex. 30:13, Lev. 27:30, 32, Num. 18:26, Deut. 14:22, 28-29, 18:3-4, 26:13), Negative (Ex. 22:28, 44-45, Lev. 22:3-4, 10, 15, 27:32-33, Deut. 12:17, 19, 26:14).
Vows, Oaths and Swearing: General (Ex. 20:7, Lev. 19:12, Num. 6:5, 18, 30:2-17, Deut. 10:20, 23:22, 24).
War Laws: Positive (Deut. 20:2, 10-11, 17, 21:10-14, 23:13-15), Negative (Deut. 3:22, 7:21, 20:3, 16, 21:14, 23:7), General (Deut. 20:19-20, 23:1, 25:17, 19).
Chapters Forward / Goals - Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12.
On pg. 426
The Seven Major Dispensations:
First: Dispensation of Innocence
Second: Dispensation of Conscience
Third: Dispensation of Human Government
Fourth: Dispensation of Promise
Fifth: Dispensation of Grace
Sixth: Dispensation of the Earthly Kingdom
Seventh: The Dispensation of the Fullness of Time (The Heavenly Kingdom of God)
On pg. 426
The Seven-Operating Keys within a Major Dispensation:
First: Universal Absolute Truths: Rules that never change. They contain the worldwide universal truths of God.
Second: Carryover Laws and Modified Rules: They become part of the new dispensational operating rules.
Third: Rules of Operation that are New, those not given in preceding one.
Forth: Institution of Stewards: God ordained those that are responsible for the Dispensation operation.
Fifth: Humanity’s Failure: Begins the changing of the Dispensation.
Sixth: Transition: The old Dispensation decreases and the new one increases until it takes full control.
Seventh: Irreversible Punitive Judgment is the final judgment on the Dispensation that failed. Once they begin, they are irreversible.
On pg. 427
The Seven Stewardship Institutions of the Major Dispensations:
First: First: Angels and humanity
Second: All humanity
Third: Humanity under government
Forth: The chosen people of God
Fifth: Equal responsibility among Jews and Gentiles
Sixth: the dispensation will be the chosen people on earth in physical bodies and with the redeemed in glorified bodies throughout all dispensation.
Seventh: The redeemed in their glorified bodies from all dispensations
On pg. 427
The Six Failures of a Major Dispensation:
Dispensation of Innocence Adam and Eve, along with angels were stewards. They lacked trust, disobeyed God, and eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. They wanted to be god-like, and thus sin came into the world followed by death.
Dispensation of Conscience, the worldwide flood came on humanity because of its wickedness. They failed to keep from the sins of their imagination and temptations. They created things in their own making, doing what they wanted in their own eyes.
The sins of their imagination took on corruption, as did the union between man and woman. This sin was an Absolute Universal moral corruption. Angels who had fallen with Satan took women and impregnated them. Angels were part of the corrupting of the human race.
Dispensation of Human Government failed because of false worship, self-centeredness, pride, and through the uniting of all humanity to partake and join against God by establishing a false religion. They created a tower in the city Shinar, called the tower of Babel to reach the heavens on their own and through their own imagination, and religious works.
Dispensation of Promise Israel’s self-centeredness led to its failure. It started in their rejecting of God the Father’s theocracy (through prophets, priest, and kings followed by rejecting God the Son and crucified Him by the "hands of the Gentiles," finally rejecting God the Holy Spirit's offer for forgiveness and their stewardship.
Dispensation of Grace failing in ambassadorship for Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:17-23. Believers being arrogant and proud Romans 11:18-24. Believers are apostatizing by their evil teaching and living. 1 Timothy 4:1-6. The world will be religious and evil but not converted or transformed. 2 Timothy 3:1-7.
Dispensation of Christ’s Earthly Kingdom, humanity fails in a perfect government. Satan is released from the bottomless pit, where an unknown number will follow him. They will attack in rebellion against the Lord Jesus Christ and His perfect Millennial Kingdom. At the Battle called Gog and Magog, many of the children who were born did not turn to God the Son will follow Satan.
On pg. 428
The Seven Transitions of the Major Dispensations:
First Dispensation, innocence was present at creation. There was no transition at the beginning (Gen. 1:1). The Dispensation of Innocence has only an ending transition to move it to the second Dispensation.
Second is the Dispensation of Conscience and have both a beginning and an ending transition that move it to the third Dispensation.
Third dispensation, the Dispensation of Human Government, has both a beginning and an ending transition that move it to the fourth Dispensation.
Fourth dispensation, the Dispensation of Promise, has both a beginning and an ending transition that move it to the fifth Dispensation.
Fifth dispensation, the Dispensation of Grace, has both a beginning and an ending transition that move it to the sixth Dispensation.
Sixth dispensation, the Dispensation of the Kingdom has both a beginning and an ending transition that move it to the Seventh Major Dispensation.
Seventh dispensation, Dispensation of the Fullness of Time has one transition at the beginning and none at the end for it never fails.
On pg. 429
The Six Punitive Judgments of the Major Dispensations:
The Dispensation of Innocence: is the judgment event of the expulsion from the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:22-24).
The Dispensation of Conscience: is the universal worldwide flood.
The Dispensation of Human Government: Is the Judgment, resulting in the changing of the languages and the scattering of humanity.
The Dispensation of Promise: Irreversible Judgment on Israel is losing their unique position, and the continuation of the Time of the Gentiles and being laid-aside by the overlain Mystery Dispensation, and all the Jewish people living at this time died for blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
The Dispensation of Grace: The Dispensation of Equality or the Mystery Dispensation will end with the Rapture. The unregenerate will be left behind and will go into the terrible seven-year Tribulation. They can never be saved and die by the end of the Tribulation ending with the Battle of Armageddon on the world.
The Dispensation of the Kingdom is at the end of this Dispensation; Christ will cast those into hell who were born during the Millennium who were not transformed. Ending is with the Great White Throne Judgment, the Irreversible Punitive Judgment of all those in hell, and casting all the nonbelievers into the Lake of Fire.Chapters Forward / Goals - Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12.
On pg. 430
Notes on Baptism and Communion:These two practices were not expounded in the book because they have caused so much division over the centuries. However, this author does believe in them and it is essential and Biblical to practice both.
Identification through water baptism is for membership in a local church body. Baptism is not for salvation but membership of a local body of believers. It is a public demonstration to others that you have received Christ Jesus (Rom. 6, Eph. 4:4, 1 Cor. 12:13, Col. 2).
Baptism has never been for salvation. Those who have propagated this teaching, have errored and caused much confusion regarding salvation. Those who have based this teaching by referencing Acts 2:38 have missed an important truth.
Salvation was not the issue on the day of Pentecost. It was a Jewish believer’s holiday and a gathering of Jews according to the Dispensation of Promise. They needed to repent and change their religious practices to be in line with the New Covenant that Jesus Christ had provided.
Also, with their repentance, they needed to repent of their National sins and turn to and identify now with the New Covenant fulfillment of forgiveness in the LORD Jesus Christ.
Through repentance, they would find forgiveness and sanctification. The New Covenant foretold in Jeremiah 31:31-38, would identify their repentance. They would receive the Holy Spirit as prophesied.
Even John the Baptist, baptized not for salvation but as a means of identification with the coming Messiah and His forgiveness. John baptized Jesus Christ to identify Him with Israel. After His revelation, Israeli believers who were baptized were identify to the Lord Jesus. After Israel rejected their stewardship by the end of Acts 7, baptism applied to all those who were believers in Christ Jesus, identifying themselves with the believers.
The Apostle Paul was saved and transformed on the road to Damascus. He was an enemy of believers, and they feared him (Acts 8-13). The Lord sent him into the city to wait for a believer to come to him and tell him what he was to do next.
Ananias was the one who met with Paul, took him, and baptized him after confirming to him the mission the Lord had for him (Acts 11). Paul’s salvation was evident before he was baptized, but his baptism gave evidence of his transformation.
Remember, Paul was the Apostle who was given the full revelation of the Mystery Dispensation and who wrote at least thirteen New Testament books. After the other believers realized that Paul identified with Christ Jesus, they accepted his conversion and mission as to be valid (Acts 15). Paul was, after baptism included in the local group of called out believers. Baptism did not save Paul; the Lord Jesus Christ did on the road to Damascus. His baptism identified him to the local believers that he was a fellow believer.
Continuing in the New Dispensation of Equality or Grace, we see the account of Cornelius’ transformation (Acts 10). Remember, at this time, the Dispensation of Promise was decreasing, and the Dispensation of Grace was beginning to take full control of humanity's responsibility (Acts 7-28).
Cornelius received the Holy Spirit in transformation before Peter took him out and baptized him. Again, we see that baptism is not for salvation. His baptism allowed him to be acceptance by the Jewish believers that were present, and who observed it. The Bible never says baptism was for salvation, rather it states clearly that it is a mean to reveal Jewish and Gentile believers to each other and identification with Christ Jesus (Rom 6).
Then we come to 1 Corinthians chapter one and see Paul not emphasizing baptism in his message of salvation, the gospel. Baptism was not what he preached. He stated that even though he had baptized like others, baptism was for identification only. He emphasized that baptism was for the acceptance of membership in the community of believers and that it was not for salvation.
As the Dispensation of Grace comes to full control, baptism is related to the local church of called-out believers (1 Cor. 1:1-17, 12:13, Eph. 4) (also see the chapter on spiritual truths of the special gifts given by the Holy Spirit).
The full context of the unity of believers is the chapter’s goal. In Colossians chapter two baptism is presented in context with practices done without hands. In 1 Peter 3:12 it says it is an antitype or something represented by a symbol. This connects water baptism with Spirit baptism, which is done without hands. When Christ Jesus walked with His disciples and John the Baptist baptized Him, He referred to the future when He would baptize with the Spirit (Matt. 3, Eph. 1:13).Mark 1:8: “I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
This study is not an exhaustive study on baptism and it is not intended to divert your attention away from dispensational truths. Believers have done this in the past and have destroyed the understanding of the Universal Truths of Scripture. This study does not want to take away the truths inherent in dispensational truth, so this has only been a small synopsis of baptism.
To conclude, baptism identifies one with a local church of believers and it works to express unity among them. It shows that one has been transformed and desires to participate with believers in the truths of the Gospel.
Remember, the first-century church did not have a membership class. Instead, baptism was equated with membership. Baptism is not for salvation. No one was baptized in Scripture as an infant. The mode of baptism seen in the Bible relates to the meaning of the word “baptize” in Greek, which means to "dip" or "immerse” (Eph. 4). There are all kinds of offshoots on baptism, which have no, scriptural foundation. Immersion is the Biblical form of baptism for believers.
On pg. 433
Notes on Communion:
Communion was never “a dispensing of grace.” That is an incorrect view that is not Biblical. This belief was practiced by false teachers, keeping their congregation and governments under their authority of fear.
Communion is a memorial celebration that is done in remembrance of the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ. It started back in the Dispensation of Promise. It began when the children of Israel were delivered from their bondage in Egypt.
They were to put the blood of the sacrifice on their doorpost(s) so that when the death angel passed by their dwelling, he would not kill the firstborn in their families. The night the event happened; the death angel killed every Egyptian firstborn son. All those who did not put the blood on their doorpost faced this act of retribution.
Also, they were to eat of the sacrifice in their homes and were to be clothed to leave Egypt as soon as morning came when they would receive further instructions from God. Many believe the pattern of blood on the doorpost made a cross symbol representing the future Gospel of our Lords death.
The meat represented the body of Jesus Christ and the sacrifice He made. This event was the event in which cause the Egyptian’s king Pharaoh, to give the orders to let God’s people leave Egypt (Ex. 12, Lev. 23:4-5). The Jews participated as a community of believers.
From then on, the deliverance of God’s people from Egypt was a remembrance celebrated throughout time. In fact, on the night of our Lord Jesus’ betrayal the Lord, and His disciples were practicing this memorial, and our Lord told his disciples he would not do it again in person until the Father's Kingdom was with Him (Matt. 26:29).
When the Mystery Dispensation took the place of the Dispensation of Promise, the community of believers who celebrated Christ’s finished work in the New Covenant continued the practice.
This is why the body of believers still observes it today in this Dispensation. The Gospel records it as representing the Passover and the blood of Christ concerning the New Covenant.
The covenant is an eternal promise made by the Godhead (Matt. 26:17-30, Mk. 14:12-21, 1 Cor. 10:16, 11:23-34). It is a Universal dispensational truth of Christ Jesus and His sacrifice for humanity. The practice does not dispense salvation; rather it is a remembrance and memorial practice.
On pg. 434
Notes on Local Church Government:
There are governing scenarios that teach us how the local church is to be structured.
The structure of a local church organization is again, not addressed in this book. However, there are Biblical reasons for each of the following governments that are formed. It would be helpful for those responsible for establishing local churches to consider dispensational reasons for the establishment of churches.
- The first type adheres to a denominational structure, which has a controlling body that governs local churches. These organizations are supported by all the local churches under their control. They call the pastors to lead the local churches and fire them when they do not meet their requirements for them. This type of church structure is not found to existing in the New Covenant local church.
- The second type is a local congregational governing body. This is the Biblical view that is line with the New Covenant and applicable for the local church for today. It has different types of government within it. Examples are:
- A congregation that includes “one-plus” membership is a local church. In these churches, the congregation votes on issues.
- A local church organized with a board, pastor, elders, and deacons. Others can include trustees, elders, deacons, and a third multiple of qualified pastors that are elders and deacons. Some have trustees, and some do not.
Chapters Forward / Goals - Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12.
On pg. 437Bibliography
General Authors and Books:
Feinberg, John. Continuity and Discontinuity: Perspectives on the Relationship between the Old and New Testaments. Crossway, 1988.
Jeremiah, David. When Christ Appears. Worthy Books, 2018.
Jeremiah, David. Is This The End? Thomas Nelson, 2016.
Pickering, Ernest. Biblical Separation: The Struggle for a Pure Church. Regular Baptist Press, 1961.
Note the chapter on Distinctive Teachings of Ultra-Dispensationalism.Pollock, John. The Apostle: A Life of Paul. David C. Cook, 2012.
John Pollock makes Paul and his story fresh and alive.
(Remember the Apostle Paul wrote most of the New Testament, and was ordained by Jesus Christ as the Apostle to the Gentiles. He was the apostle of the Body of Christ’s Teaching and the Apostle of the Dispensation of Grace fully revealed. The books in this list need to be studied along with this book, especially those by the Acts 2 Dispensationalist Authors.)
Vlach, Michael. He Will Reign Forever: A Biblical Theology of the Kingdom of God. Lampion House, 2017.
Although not specifically a dispensational book, Vlach does emphasize some pertinent details regarding dispensationalism as it relates to God’s Kingdom.
Vlach, Michael. Dispensationalism: Essential Beliefs and Common Myths. Theological Studies Press, 2017.
Ware, Bruce A. “The New Covenant and the People(s) of God.” In Dispensationalism, Israel and the Church: The Search for Definition, edited by Craig A. Blaising and Darrell Bock, 68–97. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992.
On pg. 438Dispensationalist Authors and Books that Hold to the Acts 2 View:
These books need to be studied along with this book to clear up the mistakes made by the Acts 2 view.
Chafer, Lewis Sperry. Chafer’s Systematic Theology.Dallas Seminary Press, 1957.
This eight volume set contains an original study of systematic theology from the Biblical viewpoint. It is evangelical, premillennial and dispensational.
Larkin, Clarence.The Greatest Book on "Dispensational Truth" in the World. Rev. Clarence Larkin, 1920.
Ryrie, Charles. Dispensationalism . Moody Publishers, 2007.
Ryrie, Charles. Dispensationalism Today .Moody Press, 1965.Scofield, C.I.
He was instrumental in the movement and development of the Acts 2 Dispensation position. The Old Scofield® Study Bible, KJV, Standard Edition details much of his views
On pg. 438
Mid-Acts Books and Authors:
The following books and authors need to be studied along with the information given in this book to clear up the mistakes made by those who espouse a Mid-Acts position.
Baker, Charles F.
He was an alumnus of Wheaton College and Dallas Theological Seminar and was instrumental in popularizing the Mid-Acts Position. He wrote over nine books on the subject including A Dispensational Theology, God's Clock of the Ages, Understanding the Gospels, A Different Approach, and Understanding the Book of Acts.
O'Hair , J.C.
A major promoter of the Mid-Acts position. He has helped popularize the view.
DeWitt, Dale
A Teacher of Theology and Greek at Grace Bible College who holds to a Mid-Acts view. His teaching has been influential in spreading the Mid-Acts position. One of his most influential works is Dispensational Theology in America During the Twentieth Century: Theological Development and Cultural Context.
On pg. 439Progressive Dispensationalist Books and Authors:
The following books and authors need to be studied along with this book in order to clear up mistakes made by the progressive position. These are some of the early founders espousing Progressive Dispensationalism.
Blasing, Craig A., and Bock, Darrell L. Dispensationalism, Israel, and the Church. Zondervan Academic, 1992.
Feinberg, John S. Continuity and Discontinuity (Essays in Honor of S. Lewis Johnson, Jr.): Perspectives on the Relationship Between the Old and New Testaments. Crossway, 1988.
Saucy, Robert. The Case for Progressive Dispensationalism. Zondervan, 1993.Chapters Forward / Goals - Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12.
On pg. 441
Bible Abbreviations
Arranged Alphabetically Abbreviation
Old Testament and New Testament
1 Chr.1 Chronicles
OT
1 Cor.
1 Corinthians
NT
1 John
1 John
NT
1 Kin.
1 Kings
OT
1 Pet.
1 Peter
NT
1 Sam.
1 Samuel
OT
1 Thess.
1 Thessalonians
NT
1 Tim.
1 Timothy
NT
2 Chr.
2 Chronicles
OT
2 Cor.
2 Corinthians
NT
2 John
2 John
NT
2 Kin.
2 Kings
OT
2 Pet.
2 Peter
NT
2 Sam.
2 Samuel
OT
2 Thess.
2 Thessalonians
NT
2 Tim.
2 Timothy
NT
3 John
3 John
NT
Acts
Acts
NT
Amos
Amos
OT
Col.
Colossians
NT
Dan.
Daniel
OT
Deut.
Deuteronomy
OT
Eccl.
Ecclesiastes
OT
Eph.
Ephesians
NT
Esth.
Esther
OT
Ex.
Exodus
OT
Ezek.
Ezekiel
OT
Ezra
Ezra
OT
Gal.
Galatians
NT
Gen.
Genesis
OT
Hab.
Habakkuk
OT
Hag.
Haggai
OT
Heb.
Hebrews
NT
Hos.Hosea
OT
Is.
Isaiah
OT
James
James
NT
Jer.
Jeremiah
OT
Job
Job
OT
Joel
Joel
OT
John
John
NT
Jon.
Jonah
OT
Josh.
Joshua
OT
Jude
Jude
NT
Judg.
Judges
OT
Lam.
Lamentations
OT
Lev.
Leviticus
OT
Luke
Luke
NT
Mal.
Malachi
OT
Mark
Mark
NT
Matt.
Matthew
NT
Mic.
Micah
OT
Nah.
Nahum
OT
Neh.
Nehemiah
OT
Num.
Numbers
OT
Obad.
Obadiah
OT
Phil.
Philippians
NT
Philem.
Philemon
NT
Prov.
Proverbs
NT
Ps.
Psalms
OT
Rev.
Revelation
NT
Rom.
Romans
NT
Ruth
Ruth
OT
Song
Song of Solomon
OT
Titus
Titus
NT
Zech.
Zechariah
OT
Zeph.
Zephaniah
OT
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Chapters Forward / Goals - Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12.