Many readers of The Christian will already be familiar with the terms “dispensations” and “dispensationalism,” but perhaps it would be helpful to go over once again what the word means and why it is important.
The word “dispensation” simply means a “house law” — a principle governing the running of a household. In the sense in which Scripture uses the term, it refers to a certain order or administration of things in this world, by God, for a certain period of time. It is a way that God deals with man for a particular age, and which is eventually replaced by a different administration, according to God’s sovereignty.
Essential for Understanding the Bible
Dispensational truth is most essential to a proper understanding of the Bible. An old brother, now with the Lord, used to say in stentorian tones, “I never met a man who could understand the Bible unless he saw in it God’s purposes for the blessing of the church in heaven and the blessing of Israel on earth.” This is true, and the popular idea today of merging Israel with the church has only produced confusion in the minds of many Christians.
The question may well arise, Why did God act this way? Was He being inconsistent with His nature and attributes to act differently with man at different times? For example, was it inconsistent with God (we speak reverently, hating the very thought) for God to tell Israel to destroy their enemies with the sword, while He tells Christians now to “love their enemies”? Was it inconsistent with God to encourage a beautiful temple to be built by Israel in the Old Testament, while telling believers in the New Testament that God “dwelleth not in temples made with hands”? (Acts 17:2424God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; (Acts 17:24)).
No, God is not inconsistent. But first of all we must recognize that God “giveth not account of any of His matters” (Job 33:1313Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters. (Job 33:13)). God is at liberty to act as He pleases, and as His creatures, we cannot question or criticize Him. Our place is to recognize His power and authority and to obey.
However, from God’s dealings with man in the various dispensations, we can see that His varied glories are displayed and that all this is also connected with the honor and glory of His beloved Son. There was one glory displayed in the giving of the law to Israel, but another glory in His dealing with man in grace during this present time. Yet another glory will be displayed when the Lord Jesus Christ reigns in righteousness in His kingdom, during the millennium.
Implications for Our Behavior
The recognition of the different dispensations also has serious implications for our behavior, for to be “knowing the time” (Rom. 13:1111And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. (Romans 13:11)) and to be acting accordingly is possible only when we recognize and understand dispensational truth. The Word of God sometimes uses the word “perfect,” not to describe those who are absolutely without fault, but rather those who are mature or full-grown. They understand the ways of God with man at the time of their life, and they adopt actions and a lifestyle that is according to God’s ways at the time. For example, God could tell Abraham, “Walk before Me, and be thou perfect” (Gen. 17:11And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. (Genesis 17:1)), and Paul could tell the Philippians, “Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded” (Phil. 3:1515Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. (Philippians 3:15)). In both cases the word “perfect” means maturity in divine things, but the maturity that Paul expected of the Philippians far exceeded the maturity God expected of Abraham, for they lived in completely different dispensations.
Some have argued that while the word “dispensation” is used a number of times in Scripture, nowhere are the dispensations listed, nor are they even always described in detail. Also, there are different ways of looking at the various epochs in man’s history, depending on whether we take a broad or a detailed outlook. More than this, dispensations do not usually begin and end exactly at a given time. While the principles of a particular dispensation are definite, one dispensation often diffuses into the next, over a period of time. For example, God gave the Jews who were saved in this dispensation of grace time to adjust to the liberty of Christianity. They were used to the rule of law and found it hard to give that up. God was gracious to them and gave them 40 years, before He allowed their temple to be destroyed.
Seven Dispensations
A common way of looking at the various dispensations is to divide them into seven — innocence, conscience, government, promise, law, grace and kingdom. If we use this method, we will find that the various dispensations alternate in their character. In some, God asserts His rights and control over this world, and He exercises those rights through an individual or nation whom He raises up. Thus under Adam (innocence), Noah (government), Israel (law), and Christ (kingdom), God asserts His rights over this world. At other times, God does not exercise His immediate rights, and He leaves the world to go its own way, while raising up those who walk before Him as strangers and pilgrims in this world. Thus Seth and his family (conscience), Abraham and his family (promise), and the church (grace) were called (and as to the church, are still called) to walk before God, giving up present advantage for future gain. However, even in not exercising His immediate rights and allowing the world to go its own way, God always works providentially behind the scenes to accomplish His purposes, despite the appearance of His not interfering with the world.
A Test for Man
The question may arise, Will there ever be a day when there are no dispensations? I believe that Scripture shows us that eventually that day will come, but it will be in eternity, not in time. The dispensations were made for a time scene, and they will cease to exist when time no longer exists. In the Old Testament man was under testing, for God was proving man, to see if there were any good in man as a fallen creature. In that sense, when man crucified the Lord Jesus, his trial was over. Yet in another sense, every dispensation is a test for man, as to whether he will accept God’s principles and way of administration for that time and walk before God in that maturity of which we have spoken. Sadly, man has failed in every way that God chose to work with him, and he will continue to do so. We have already seen the failure of every dispensation up to and including that of grace, and we know from prophecy that the coming millennial kingdom will end in failure and judgment too. But will God be frustrated in His purposes? Must He forever have failure and judgment before Him, because of man’s willfulness?
No, for the finished work of Christ on the cross has already provided the means by which sin will be forever removed from this entire universe. God will never have to look upon sin or deal with it again. In the so-called eternal state, after the final judgment at the great white throne (Rev. 20:11-1511And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11‑15)), God will burn up this old earth, and the heavens too, and create new heavens and a new earth, “wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2 Peter 3:1313Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. (2 Peter 3:13)). Not much detail is given to us concerning that day, but it seems that nations as such will not exist anymore, and sin will never raise its head again. The kingdom of God will then be universal, with Christ at its head, and everything will be perfectly according to God’s mind.
At length — the final kingdom,
No bound, no end possessing,
When heaven and earth —
God all in all
Shall fill with largest blessing.
All root of evil banished,
No breath of sin to wither,
On earth — on high —
Naught else but joy,
And blissful peace forever!
G. Gilpin
W. J. Prost