Seven Dispensations of God

By Benny Tucker

A very important point to bring out now is a very simple one, without this literal interpretation of the bible, one will never understand the end of the age, as brought forth in the book of Revelation. Dispensational theology teaches that there are two distinct peoples of God: Israel and the church. Dispensationalists believe that salvation has always been by faith—in God in the Old Testament,

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jun 11, 2019
• ISBN: 9780359704996

Book preview

Seven Dispensations of God

Seven Dispensations of God

Seven

Dispensations

Of God

Hebrews 1:1-4

1) God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets; 2) 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; 3) 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; 4) having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

First Edition 2019

Copyright Page

Scripture quotations are taken from the

King James Version (KJV) of the Bible.

KJV Commentary; King James Study Bible

New King James Version (NKJV)

English Standard Version (ESV)

Personal Sermon outlines.

©Copyright 2019-Benny Tucker

All rights reserved

Published by

Lulu Publishing

ISBN 978-0-359-70499-6

Printed in the United States of America.

Introduction

***Introduction***

Dispensationalism, seems such a big word.  But, let’s look at this big word, and find a simple definition for it.  The professors, and theologians have a meaning for it, but I think we need a simple, every day, and understandable meaning, OK?

1) Dispensationalism: The Bible word Dispensation means: An administration of affairs, a stewardship, a mode of dealing.

2) Dispensationalism: is a theological system that recognizes the ages ordained by God to order the affairs of the world.

Dispensationalism has two primary distinctives:

1) A consistently literal interpretation of Scripture, especially Bible prophecy, and

2) A view of the uniqueness of Israel as separate from the church in God’s program.

Classical dispensationalism identifies seven dispensations in God’s plan for humanity.

1. Innocence (Genesis 1 thru Genesis 3:7),

2. Conscience (Genesis 3:8 thru Genesis 8:22),

3. Human Government (Genesis 9:1 thru Genesis 11:32),

4. Promise (Genesis 12:1 thru Exodus 19:25),

5. Law (Exodus 20:1 thru Acts 2:4),

6. Grace (Acts 2:4 thru Revelation 20:3),

7. Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 20:4–6).

No one knows from where God originated, and I want to add at this point, Do not try to figure it out!  The bible says that God said to Moses, "I AM, that I AM (KJV). The New King James says, I AM, who I AM.  I see this as saying, God is who He is, and cannot change, and this is His nature of who He is.  But listen, God can change His mind.  God can change the way He does things, and events throughout history, He can change all things, but not His nature.  Every divine, holy, precious thing the bible says about God is not changeable for this is His nature. This is the very reason God tells us that sinners must be judged, and punished, sinners are against His holiness, and divine nature, and this cannot be.

There are at least two reasons why literalism is the best way to view Scripture.

First, logically, the purpose of language itself requires that we interpret words literally. Language was given by God for the purpose of being able to communicate. Words are vessels of meaning.

Secondly, the reason is biblical. Every prophecy about Jesus Christ in the Old Testament was fulfilled literally. Jesus’ birth, His ministry, His death, His burial, and His resurrection, all occurred exactly as the Old Testament predicted. The prophecies were literal. There is no non-literal fulfillment of messianic prophecies in the New Testament. This argues strongly for the literal method. If a literal interpretation is not used in studying the Scriptures, there is no objective standard, or benchmark by which to understand the Bible. Each person would be able to interpret the Bible as he saw fit. Biblical interpretation would devolve into what this passage says to me instead of the Bible says. Sadly, this is already the case in much of what is called Bible study today.

A very important point to bring out now is a very simple one, without this literal interpretation of the bible, one will never understand the end of the age, as brought forth in the book of Revelation.  Dispensational theology teaches that there are two distinct peoples of God: Israel and the church. Dispensationalists believe that salvation has always been by faith—in God in the Old Testament, and specifically in God the Son, in the New Testament. Dispensationalists hold that the church has not replaced Israel in God’s program, and that the Old Testament promises made to Israel have not been transferred to the church. The church is an inheritance to Jesus the Son.  This is spoken of in Psalms chapter 2, verse 8. "Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen (gentiles) for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession."

The church is the brother, and the sister, to Jesus the Christ, heirs with Christ, the body of Christ, the Bride of Christ, and Israel was never spoken of like this.  Israel has been placed in the background until after the church is raptured and given to the Son, Jesus.  God will complete His specific dealings with Israel after these things.  This is demonstrated in Acts 13:46, Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, it was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.  Paul also states that because the Jews would not believe, he took, by direction of the Holy Ghost, the holy Gospel to the gentiles. Dispensationalism teaches that the promises God made to Israel in the Old Testament (for land, many descendants, and blessings) will be ultimately fulfilled in the 1000-year period spoken of in Revelation 20. Dispensationalists believe that, just as God is in this age focusing His attention on the church, He will again in the future focus His attention on Israel.  Please refer to Romans chapters 9 – 11. There you will find the truth about Israel. 

Romans Chapter 9:

1) Israel's rejection of Christ.

2) Israel’s Rejection and God’s Purpose.

3) Israel’s Rejection and God’s Justice.

4) Present Condition of Israel.

Romans Chapter 10:

1) Israel Needs the Gospel.

2) Israel Rejects the Gospel.

Romans Chapter 11:

1) Israel’s Rejection Not Total.

2) Israel’s Rejection Not Final.

So, finally in Daniel 9:24, we find this about the Great Tribulation, which is directed in and about Israel.

Seventy weeks (which is 7 years times 70 = 490 years), are determined, for your people and for your holy city, (which is Jerusalem), to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in ever-lasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy.(Who is Jesus Christ).

This speaks of the coming of Jesus, who ends sins, brings righteousness, seals up vision and prophecy, and will be anointed the Most Holy.  We have spoken of this many times in our lessons, most recently in, Caught Up, Rapture Evidence. Which can be found on Sermon Audio.com, under Berkley Evangelistic Association, preached July 31, 2016. Of this 490 years, mentioned in Daniel, 483 years have passed already, and the final 7 years is the Tribulation period of which Israel will finally accept their Messiah, but this will be after the rapture of the Church.  We cannot understand the latter part of the New Testament and Revelation unless we separate Israel, Tribulation saints, and the Church.  Each of these are dealt with differently. We are currently in the Dispensation of Grace,

Ephesians 3:2-3; if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery,

We will remain in this Dispensation of Grace, until God removes the church through the rapture, and then He will deal with Israel, and the ending of history as we know it.

God has provided proper management of the history of the world.  These dispensations are not paths to salvation, but manners in which God relates to man. Each dispensation includes a recognizable pattern of how God worked with people living in the dispensation. That pattern is:

1) A responsibility, don't sin, trust God, and worship God.

2) A failure, disobedient, have to do it your own way.

3) A judgment, God passed judgment, corrects His people.

4) Grace to move on, shows Grace and mercy: forgives.

While there are many different ideas, and arguments referencing all that has been said thus far, we still must relate back to common sense?  We, because of Jesus Christ, live in a time where we have freedom to believe in Jesus, and be saved through God's amazing Grace, this is a gift.  You cannot work for it, nor buy it, it is a gift, and must be accepted by believing in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, God's only begotten Son, there is no other way to be saved except through the Son. This is totally different than all that was explained in the Old Testament.  As I have said before, one should never attempt to read the Old Testament, prior to reading the New Testament.

It is not difficult to understand the 7 dispensations, but first you must know your bible and the layout of how God operated amongst the peoples of the world.  Let's very briefly reflect, momentarily, on these dispensations;

1. Innocence, before sin entered in. Garden of Eden.

2. Conscience, after sin entered, Adam and Eve feel guilty.

3. Human Government, Noah after the flood, repopulate.

4. Promise, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Time in Egypt.

5. Law, Moses, wilderness, promise land, Israel.

6. Grace, Jesus and the work of His Cross. (TODAY)

7. Millennial Kingdom, after Tribulation, prior to White  

Throne Judgment.

The millennium will be a one thousand year period, on this very earth, Jesus will be the King of Kings, and Satan is chained, and placed in the bottomless pit.  The raptured Church will reign with Jesus. There will be peace, no sin, only peaceful heavenly living, no sickness, yet there will be births of the newborns who will know no sin. 

So as we close this introduction, may we all remember that we can never place God in a box, or restrict His Omniscience, we can never slow, or change His hand of action, His will to come, on earth, as in heaven.  We await that glorious day when Jesus will take us to the seventh and final dispensation, the Millennial Kingdom.  God Bless you all as my prayer. 

Revelation 22:20-21.

I Am Coming Quickly

He who testifies to these things says, Surely I am coming quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Chapter One The Age of Innocence Garden of Eden

***Chapter One***

The Age of Innocence

Garden of Eden

The first dispensation that we will be looking into takes place in the Garden of Eden.  Genesis, Chapter 2, gives us the insight for the innocence.  Verse 7 reflects the creation of man from the dust of the earth, God breathed into him and he became a living soul.  To better understand what man is, consider this, man is made from the dirt, or dust of the earth, but God gives him part of Himself, which gives him a soul, and spirit.  That’s where we get the phrase we are from God, speaking directly about the soul, and spirit.  The body must return to the dust from which it came but the soul will return to God.  Verses 18, thru 22, tells us that God created all the creatures, and animals, and finally He said, It was not good for Adam to be alone, so He created woman from the rib of Adam.  The word rib, in Hebrew, translates to chamber, or side chamber.  So, I believe that all the reproduction organs for the woman, and the like, were in this box, or container, and God then made woman, she was called this because she had a womb. Now lots of folks are going to ask about this, and differ with me, and that is OK.  If we look in Genesis 1:27 we'll find God referring to Adam as them (plural) being male and female, So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

This was said even though Eve had not been created yet.  The truth of the matter is, it really does not matter.  The main point in all this is, Adam and Eve, knew no evil, no sin, they were a perfect creation, until they committed disobedience.  This period of time is reflected as the dispensation of innocence.  Just think Adam and Eve knew no evil.  They had never had a bad thought, their minds were 100% operational, they had perfect vision, and hearing.  They could probably do things that we would only dream of.  I could only imagine watching angels ascending, and descending from heaven to earth.  What level of hearing would there need to be, to hear every sound, every voice of song, and praise, and understand all at once, what each one is saying.  I do believe we have computers that can determine music, and sounds today, but not a human being.  Imagine being able to smell every flower, and scent of the garden, all at once, and yet be able to determine each type of scent, separately, yet all together.  How amazing were these two individuals, and I personally believe that Adam, and maybe even Eve, spoke with the animals telepathically, how else, could they be called, and dealt with?

Now I often wondered about this tree of Good and Evil, The tree of knowledge. You see, the bible talks like this, knowledge belongs to man, and wisdom is from God.  So this tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, was a full grown temptation, right there in the Garden of Eden, it must have looked amazing, and what about the smell of its fruit, must have been over bearing.  Now, let us remember Adam and Eve have no knowledge of sin, only wisdom from God.  They have never known any evil thing.  Today, when I am faced with a temptation, I can recognize it right away, because, I know the knowledge