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Biblical Dispensations.....

Adam to flood...Pre-Deluveon civilization...(gentile.. Genisis 1:11----the fall----flood----babel)

From flood to christ.....Post Deluveon civilization....(promise and law.... Promise-gen 12 thru exodus 19....Law-Exodus 19 thru Malachi gospels (-Jn 13-17)....promise-Abraham, Isaac, Jacob.....Law-Moses.....promise-Abrahamic Covenant....Law- law of Moses

Curch age...present time....Grace (mystery)-acts 2 thruRev. 5-Epistles....Paul, Peter, John.....Giving of the Holy Spirit

Rapture...moment in time...saints w/Christ in Heaven....1 Thes 4:13-18

Trial and Tribulation....Un-believers left on earth .....7 yrs....last 31/2 years, (Satan cast out of heaven Rev. 12:9) at the end of last 31/2 yrs., battle of Armageddon...Second advent  Rev. 14:11-15 (with the saints)....Jewish-Rev 6-19.....Anti-christ-144,000, true Jewish witnesses.....Abomination of Desolation-Armaggedon Matt 24:15-16


Millenium.....1000 yrs. ...perfect environment....Rev. 20....Kingdom of Christ

At the end of Millenium....battle og Gog & Magog

Then starts eternity...new heaven and earth.....great white throne judgement.....eternal hell

(the first 31/2 yrs of Trial and Tribulation beast 1 &2 makes FALSE covenant with Isreal...Isa. 28:15-18....Last 31/2 yrs. man of sin (satan) demands worship..2 Thes.2...political power.

Adding to your list, for after the Rapture. ;D

Beginning of Tribulation

The Anti-christ makes a seven-year covenant with Israel Daniel 9:26-27
Two witnesses begin their three and a half year evangelistic ministry Revelation 11: 3-6
Israel lives in peace and rebuilds under the patronage of the Antichrist Ezekiel 38:8
The world church (one world religion) dominates religion and the Antichrist Revelation 17
Temple sacrifices are instituted Revelation 11: 1-2
First Seal - The Anti-christ becomes a world leader for peace with the support of his confederacy Daniel 9:7, 20, 24; Matthew 24: 4-5; Revelation 6: 1-2; 13:5, 7; 17:12-13
Second Seal - War Matthew 24:6-7; Revelation 6:3-4
Third Seal - Famine Matthew 24:7b; Revelation 6:5-6
Fourth Seal - Death Matthew 24:7-8; Revelation 6:7-8
Fifth Seal - Martyrdom of converted multitudes Matthew 24:9-10; Revelation 6:9-11; 7:9-14
Sixth Seal - Cosmic disturbances and worldwide fear of divine wrath Matthew 24:15-21; Revelation 6:12-17
144,000 Jews are saved and sealed Revelation 7:1-8
A large multitude of people are saved Revelation 7:9-17
Seventh Seal - Silence = Seven Trumpet judgments Revelation 8: 1-2
This is the first 3.5 years.

Middle of the Tribulation
Satan cast down from heaven by Michael Revelation 12: 7-12
The Anti-christ breaks his seven-year covenant with Israel (Daniel 9:27)
The 10 kings united under the Anti-christ destroy the world church (Revelation 17: 16-18)
The beast martyrs the two witnesses (2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 11:7-12)
The ''Abomination of Desolation'' (Daniel 12:11)

Second Half of Tribulation.

The Anti-christ is revealed as ''the man of lawlessness'' 2 Thessalonians 2: 3, 8-9
The image of the Anti-christ is set up for worldwide worship and promoted by the false prophet Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24: 11-12, 15; 2 Thessalonians 2:4, 11; Revelation 13:4, 11-15
the mark of the beast is used to promote worship of the antichrist Revelation 13: 16-18
First Trumpet - Hail and fire mixed with blood, and 1/3 of earth's vegetation destroyed Revelation 8:7
Second Trumpet - 1/3 of sea becomes blood, 1/3 of marine life killed, and 1/3 of ships destroyed Revelation 8:8,9
Third Trumpet - 1/3 of fresh water poisoned Revelation 8:10,11
Fourth Trumpet - 1/3 of sun, moon, and stars darkened Revelation 8:12
An eagle proclaims three woes which are the last three trumpets
Fifth Trumpet - (First Woe) - Demon locusts attack and torment unbelievers for five months Revelation 9:1-12
Sixth Trumpet - (Second Woe) - 4 angels are loosed who kill 1/3 of mankind; 200 million man army assembled Revelation 9:13-21
Seventh Trumpet - (Third Woe) - The seven bowl judgments Revelation 11:15-19
First Bowl - Boils inflicted on those who had the mark of the beast or worshiped his image Revelation 16:2
Second Bowl - All seas turn turned into blood and every living creature in the sea dies Revelation 16:3
Third Bowl - Rivers and springs turn to blood Revelation 16:4-7
Fourth Bowl - Sun scorches men with oppressive heat Revelation 16:8,9
Fifth Bowl - The kingdom of the beast is plunged into utter darkness that causes continual pain Revelation 16:10,11
Sixth Bowl - Euphrates River dries up to facilitate the movement of the confederacy's army Revelation 16:12
Seventh Bowl - Earth is shaken by tremendous earthquakes, great noises, and huge hailstones, and the cities of the world will be destroyed Revelation 16:17-21

The last 3.5 years of Tribulation.

End of Tribulation

The armies from the East and the North move toward Palestine Daniel 11:44; Revelation 16:12
Jerusalem is ravaged Zechariah 14:1-4
Commercial Babylon is destroyed Revelation 16:19; 18:1-3, 21-24
Signs appear in the earth and sky that signal the beginning of the end Isaiah 13:10; Joel 2:10, 30-31; 3:15; Matthew 24:29
Messiah (Jesus) returns to earth with the armies of heaven to destroy the godless army of the antichrist Matthew 24:27-31; Revelation 19:11-16
Armies of the earth unite at Armageddon against Yeshua and the armies of heaven Joel 3:9-11; Revelation 16:16; 19:17-19
The armies of the earth are destroyed by Jesus, in Hebrew, Yeshua. Revelation 19:19, 21
The Anti-christ and the false prophet are thrown into the Lake of Fire Revelation 19:20
Satan is bound for 1000 years, and tossed into the lake of fire. After the time is up,Satan will be released for a short while. Revelation 20:3

Christianty Rocks (http://www.freewebs.com/christanityrocks/misstherapture.htm)

I'm sure theres a few I've not posted.

Rest with the Lord.
Bob

Revelation 17:14 They will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them; for He is Lord of lords and King of kings--and those with Him and on His side are chosen and called [elected] and loyal and faithful followers.

Howdy Inissue55,

Greetings. I am uncertain of the term dispensation. I prefer to look at the two covenants and the era that these cover.

The Old Covenant was from Moses until Christ fulfilled the various shadows, types and sacrifices in his life, crucifixion, death and resurrection. The externals of the Mosaic system were removed in AD70 with the destruction of the Temple and the captivity of Judah. The Old Covenant gave temporary residence in the land, but could not save or give eternal life.

The New Covenant was given in Eden in Genesis 3:15, was expanded in the promises to Abraham Genesis 12, 13 etc and David 2 Samuel 7:12-16, and were confirmed and made effective by the blood of Christ.
 Romans 15:8-9 (KJV): "8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: 9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name."
Acts 13:34 (KJV): "34 And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.
Galatians 3:16,26-29 (KJV): "16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."

The New Covenant era then commences at Eden, is centred in the death and resurrection of Christ and the hope of his return to establish the kingdom. All from Eden onwards who have faith in this New Covenant receive salvation, and if found acceptable when Christ returns, will receive eternal life in the kingdom that will last 1000 years.

Kind regards
Trevor

What Biblical basis do you have for dividing Scripture into these dispensations?  I do not see the term ever used in such a way in Scripture?

Joel

 I believe that there 2 more dispensations that the 7  most people believe. It seems  that in all dispensations that there a time of testing. The one is The dispensation of angelic testing,and Lucifer fell. The other dispensation , ran concurrently with Christ ministry, and can be called The Dispensation of Christ's Unglorified Humanity.

We are told to study to show ourselves approved, so it is a good thing to study and discuss theology. I for one wish though that Christians would put more emphasis on the issue of salvation and attempting to lead the lost to Christ instead of wanting to argue just one theological point over and over again. There is a lack of witnessing to the lost today and yet this is supposed to be the most important part of a Christians life. In witnessing I mean our lifestyle, our actions, our treatment of fellow Christians as well as those who are still lost. When a non-Christian goes to supposed Christian forums and all that they see is people concentrating on one theological point and many times actually arguing over it then it does nothing to lead them to Christ. In fact it tends to turn them the other way.

PRAISE GOD FOR THE GOOD NEWS HE BRINGS TO US ALL!

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Rom 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Rom 3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Rom 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Rom 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Rom 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Rom 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

Rom 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

It may be that the kitchen is a little too hot for some. I don't see that discussing these issues makes us any less Christ like. Iron sharpens iron.
I agree with you Trevor. I only recognize two dispensations: grace and more grace.
Grace typified (and actually dispensed to a covenant people)
Grace poured out, or dispensed if you will, upon all nations.
Note the word upon. Some will say that the Spirit only rested upon people in the O.T. and then dwelt within only in the N.T. Here in Acts 2:17 the word upon is used. So we see that this word isn't reserved for O.T. use exclusively.
Note also that when the word is used in the O.T., i.e. the book of Joel, it is referring to a N.T. prophecy.
Is this outpouring of the Holy Spirit only upon N.T. believers? Hmmmm...

Hello Doug or BigD,

Some folks just have better things to do with their time than argue. It gets down to personal preferences based on Biblical Principles.

2 Timothy 2:14-15  Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.  15  Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.


There are many hearers and readers here, and there is definitely a point when striving between believers is negative for the lost.. Where that point is many times depends on the subject matter, but it exists just as surely as Biblical Dispensations exist.

Ephesians 3:2-7  If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:  3  How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,  4  Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)  5  Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;  6  That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:  7  Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.


οἰκονομία
oikonomía; gen. oikonomías, fem. noun from oikonoméō

ALMIGHTY GOD is obviously and most definitely in charge of HIS CREATION. GOD'S Administration or Management of mankind has definitely changed since CREATION. Simply, how GOD deals with mankind is known as a "dispensation". Bible Prophecy bluntly tells us there are more dispensations to come. There's more, but here's two periods of DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATION or DISPENSATIONS yet to come:  1)  The 7 Year Tribulation Period;  2)  The Rule and Reign of CHRIST HIMSELF over the earth from the Throne of David in Jerusalem.

Another problem with arguments many times involves oversimplification to make a point that doesn't exist. This causes a lot of confusion for the lost. In this particular thread, you would avoid GOD'S Promises to three broad categories of people:  1 )  The lost;  2 )  THE CHURCH WHICH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST;  3 ) Israel. In this process of avoidance, you would also be neglecting JUDGMENT, CONDEMNATION, AND ETERNITY.

Most Christians use the word "dispensation" because the Bible uses this word and explains this word with various times of Biblical history. Some folks don't like the word "dispensation" for some unknown reason. A synonym can be used instead, but the same folks don't like the synonyms either (i.e. administration, program). Regardless, the various dispensations have happened as a unquestioned FACT, and there are more dispensations to come. Bible Prophecy is also unquestioned FACT for those who believe GOD'S Promises. I believe all of GOD'S Promises  and Statements completely, and most Christians do. As a result, we also believe that Bible Prophecy will be fulfilled perfectly at GOD'S Appointed time.

Let me give you two easy examples to help you understand the word "dispensation":  1 )  Did GOD treat Adam and Eve differently after they sinned?  2 )  Are there differences in the way GOD treated men comparing the time of Moses and the Law with the time after JESUS CHRIST and the CROSS? The answer is "YES!", and this is a Biblical FACT! The FACTS about other Dispensations of GOD are just as EASY. These facts can't be ignored if someone wants to understand the Holy Bible.

Love In Christ,
Tom

I agree with you BEP.  One thing people have to remember is that dispensations are a man made concept when it comes to the Bible.  Dispensations are simply divisions of time or events.  We could even say that there are 66 dispensations based on the number of books in the Bible...that one would be a stretch since the 4 Gospels are all same time and events.  But you get the point.

So to argue over dispensations is pointless, specially if you are not going to define how you are going to dispense the Bible first.

Good Morning Brother Jerry,

The only reason I answered this post is the critical nature of understanding the dispensation before being able to understand the portion of the Holy Bible written about it. The dispensations are GOD-Given and GOD-Defined. One of the primary points about dispensations is that GOD is in charge - not man. The first example is Adam and Eve disobeying GOD. GOD made the change and prescribed the punishment. Call the changes in GOD'S Dealings with man whatever you wish, but the changes are still there whatever you call them. The Apostle Paul called the changes after the CROSS the Dispensation of Grace, so this is a Biblical Principle - not a man-made principle. It's impossible to "Rightly Divide the Word of Truth" without considering Dispensations or whatever word you want to use meaning the same thing. There are Greek and Hebrew Roots for the already existing use of the word "Dispensation" in the Holy Bible, so there is really no point in replacing "Dispensation with a synonym. Understanding "Dispensations" or whatever you want to call them is one of the "musts" for Bible Study, so it is a worthy issue. I see no point in discussing this Bible fact further. If one can't see obvious changes in GOD'S dealings with mankind, we'll just have to agree to disagree (i.e. Law, Grace, etc.).

Love In Christ,
Tom

Tom,

I agree completely that there are different dealings with mankind by God.  That is clear throughout the Bible.  But my point is dispensationalism is man's divisions.  As you mentioned Paul did use the phrase "dispensation of the grace of God", as well as "dispensation of the fulness of times" meaning a dispensing of time.  That verse goes on to state that God will gather in one dispensation all things in Christ.
Paul also used the term dispensation in the phrase "dispensation of God" in Col 1:25 where he is referring to something God has given him.  "Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;"  We see that dispensation of God is that Paul has been given something from God, and further we realize that there is a dispensation of the mystery which has been given to the saints.

So this said the idea of dispensation is used in a couple of different ways and is not limited to the idea of God's dealings with man, which was my point.  Dispensationalism is another man made theology.  Yes it is important to recognize the different dealings that God had with mankind.  However you can dispense those dealings in different ways depending on what it is you are looking for.  The dispensation would look different if I only wanted to divide the dealings with man as far which dealings were blessing, or favorable, than if I wanted to only look at the dispensations of God's punishments upon Israel. 

This is why I said you have to define how you are to dispense before you get into a discussion of the different dispensations.  You could be talking about the dispensations in reference to how God treats mankind while I am thinking of the dispensation of the books of the Bible.  Both are valid dispensations to discuss, however they are two different topics. 

And please do not take this as argumentative I only felt the need to further define what it is I was talking about.  Again I agree with you completely that it is important to anyone studying the Bible to look at the dispensations of God's treatment of mankind.