Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - SEVEN DISPENSATIONS

 SEVEN DISPENSATIONS

One of the ways of interpreting Biblical history is that of dividing the time of the earth’s existence into ages or dispensations. In most cases, the ages are noted as having seven divisions; although some sources mention only three and others as many as thirty-seven. Scripture, in reality, mentions seven.

Initially, there was the Dispensation of Innocence. This extended from the dawn of time to the fall of man. God walked with man and was his intimate friend. Man was given instruction on how to maintain and look after the earth and essentially had complete freedom with one exception - to avoid the tree from which God forbid them to eat. When man disobeyed God, it ended this age and ushered in a second.

The Dispensation of Conscience followed the fall of man and extended through to the time of the flood. This was a time when man no longer had complete freedom but was instead made to deal with nature and multiple problems because of the curse on nature and the resultant difficulty in working and producing food. But it also gave the first indication of the future salvation and grace of God.

The third age was the Dispensation of Human Government which really began in Genesis Chapter 8. After the flood, God gave to Noah many of the responsibilities that He had initially given to Adam; namely to replenish the earth and have dominion over it. But, instead of this taking place, God’s commands were again not followed and, instead of replenishing the earth, mankind began a monument to their own pride and achievements. This resulted in God scattering them and their language creating human governments and multiple nations.

This was followed by the fourth age called the Dispensation of Promise which started with Abraham’s call to leave his home country of Ur and ended with the giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai. The main feature of the period was the Abrahamic Covenant given to Abraham by God. This indicated that he would be blessed, that his name would be great, and that through him all the nations of the earth would be blessed, ultimately fulfilled through the birth, life, and death of Christ.

The giving of the Law began the fifth age called the Dispensation of Law. It extended from the time in Exodus until the death of Christ. The Law was how God dealt specifically with the Jewish people and laid down the rules of the worship, conduct, and day to day life. It, however, was such that no man could possibly follow the Law completely and so once again, man resorted to his own interpretation and rules.

With Christ’s death and the New Covenant in His blood, we entered the sixth age, the Dispensation of Grace. This overtook the Law and began with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and will end someday when the church is Raptured. It deals primarily with the New Commandment: “that you love one another, as I have loved you” (John 13:34). Mark expands on this a bit more by saying:

 

“…You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, 

with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. 

This is the first commandment. And the second like it, is this: 

You shall love your neighbour as yourself…”

(Mark 12:30-31)

When the above age ends, it will usher in the final age, the Dispensation of Judgement and the Millennial Kingdom over which Christ will rule for 1000 years. This apparently will begin after the Rapture and with the seven years of judgements known as the Tribulation. This will not be a time when people should want to be on the earth for the Holy Spirit will have been removed and all sorts of evil will occur. This is the time spoken of in Revelation and although it will end in Christ’s Millennial Rule for a thousand years, it will in itself be a time most people would be better off missing. If there is any doubt, read the Book of Revelation. The age will end with the final Judgement at the White Throne.

We have proceeded through six of the seven ages of man and are still in the Dispensation of Grace. While here, there is still time to avoid the seventh age and the trials associated with it. According to the Bible, our present trials have nothing on what will take place then. It is a time to be avoided and that’s still possible while we remain in the present age and if we accept God’s gift of forgiveness through Christ. If you believe the Bible at all, it’s the way it must be.

Certainly something to think about.