Dispensations
Dispensationalism – Dispensationalism is a method of interpreting history that divides God’s dealings with mankind into different periods of time.
The seven dispensations:
Innocence
Conscience
Covenant
Promise
Law
Grace
Judgment
1. Dispensation of Innocence (Genesis 1:28-30 and 2:15-17) – This dispensation covered the period of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
2. Dispensation of Conscience – It lasted from the time of Adam and Eve’s removal from the garden until the flood (Genesis 3:8–8:22).
3. Dispensation of Covenant/Human Government – It began in Genesis 8. God had destroyed life on earth with a flood, saving Noah and family to restart the human race.
4. Dispensation of Promise – Started with the call of Abraham, continued through the lives of the patriarchs, and ended with the exodus of the Jewish people from Egypt, a period of about 430 years. During this dispensation God developed a great nation that He had chosen as His people, the Israelites. Abrahamic Covenant is important here.
5. Dispensation of Law – It lasted almost 1,500 years, from the Exodus till after Jesus Christ’s death. During the Dispensation of Law, God dealt specifically with the Jewish nation through the Mosaic Law, found in Exodus 19–23.
6. Dispensation of Grace – It began with the New Covenant in Christ’s blood (Luke 22:20). This “Age of Grace” or “Church Age” occurs between the 69th and 70th week of Daniel 9:24. It starts with the death of Christ and ends with the Rapture of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17).
7. Dispensation of Judgment – The Millennial Kingdom of Christ – It will last for 1,000 years as Christ Himself rules on earth. The born-again believers from the Age of Grace and righteous survivors of the seven years of tribulation are subjects of this kingdom. No unbeliever has access into this kingdom. Satan is bound during the 1,000 years. This period ends with the final judgment of Satan and all evil. (Revelation 20:11-14).