A dispensation may be defined as a period in time in which God manifests Himself in some particular relationship to man, having reference in all cases to the trial of the human race. I would like to give a brief outline of the various dispensations, as we see them in the Word of God.
Innocence
What is a state of innocence? It is not a condition of ignorance, because Adam had knowledge, and what knowledge it was! He was able to name all of God’s creatures: “Whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof” (Gen. 2:1919And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. (Genesis 2:19)). One sometimes hears the thoughtless question, Why could not God have created man incapable of sinning? Had He done so, man would have been a mere automaton, incapable of responding to the divine mind, incapable of virtue; in a word, he would not have been a moral being at all, but a mere creature void of personality. Innocence therefore is not a state of virtue, but a state of never having fallen. It is not a goal of attainment; rather, virtue, purity, righteousness and holiness are objects which the Christian in his practical life seeks to exhibit. “Not as though I had already attained,” says the Apostle, “but ... I press toward the mark” (Phil. 3:12-1412Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12‑14)). Adam was created innocent but not holy. In the fall, man forfeits all committed to him. Innocence is lost; this state is forever gone. The knowledge of good and evil comes in its place.
Conscience
Man tried under conscience is the subject of the next age, and this brings in responsibility. The sense of responsibility is coupled with the knowledge of good and evil which man got by the fall. Responsibility is not a mode of thought, but the very basis of all morality. Man’s conscience is his accusing or excusing monitor. We have no prohibition now, as in the former age, but instead a living monitor, conscience, “accusing” or else “excusing,” but never acquitting. This age continued from the fall of man until the flood of Noah — about 1650 years.
Government
Added to conscience, which ever remains, we now have government. The transition is marked by the establishment of God’s covenant with creation: “I do set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between Me and the earth” (Gen. 9:1313I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. (Genesis 9:13)).
Government is now introduced, the inflexible principles of which are laid down in Exodus 34:77Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. (Exodus 34:7). Let man hear this divine pronouncement: “Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.” The sword of justice, as a means of restraint upon fallen humanity, is put into the hands of Noah. This principle soon develops into what we know as civil government.
Adam held sway over the lower creation and Noah over man, as well as over the animal creation. Genesis 9:66Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. (Genesis 9:6) now becomes the penal code for the punishment of human violence: “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed.” This dispensation lasted from the flood of Noah until the call of Abraham — about 425 years.
Calling and Promise
The first rays of a new light, that is, sovereign election and unconditional grace, are the next unfoldings of the heart of God to man. God begins another character of trial of the race. Abraham comes before us as the first heir of promise. “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out ... obeyed” (Heb. 11:88By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. (Hebrews 11:8)). But very soon we see these promised blessings lost to Abraham’s children for over 400 years while they groan under the taskmasters of Egypt. This, however, did not negate the divine covenant, although so far as testing was concerned, the age ended when the people surrendered grace for law at Sinai (see Ex. 19:88And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord. (Exodus 19:8)). A dispensation has to do with testing, a covenant with God’s unchangeable, eternal purposes.
This dispensation, with these added unfoldings of God’s ways, extends from Genesis 12:11Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee: (Genesis 12:1) to Exodus 19:8,8And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord. (Exodus 19:8) a period of 430 years, more or less. In this period we get the history of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, whose lives furnish us with many beautiful types.
Law
At Sinai, Israel voluntarily accepted the law and surrendered unconditional favor and divine grace. But God does not fail His failing people; He ever has a resource at hand. The law did not take away the Abrahamic covenant, and so Israel is still “beloved for the fathers’ sakes.” The law came in as a disciplinary measure, until the “Seed” should come. It was our “schoolmaster” until Christ. “It was added because of transgressions” (Gal. 3:1919Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. (Galatians 3:19)). This dispensation covers a period of approximately 1500 years, extending from Exodus 19 to the end of Malachi.
It is an account of God’s dealings with His people Israel, the depositaries of His counsels at that time. Trial in a new relationship is now begun with an especially favored nation in view. In Exodus 19:5,5Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: (Exodus 19:5) we have the first “if” in God’s relationship with His people: “If ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people.” Pure grace, without the admixture of law, was now over. Conscience and government still go on but with man under added responsibility.
Coming then to the incarnation of Christ, we find that God closes the long period of “Law” in judgment. “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. ... Ye shall not see Me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord” (Matt. 23:38-3938Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 39For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. (Matthew 23:38‑39)).
Grace
The New Testament begins with that inscrutable mystery, the Incarnation. “Great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh” (1 Tim. 3:1616And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (1 Timothy 3:16)). “The Word was made [became] flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:1414And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)). The Son of God, begotten in time, is a fact and a truth aside from, or rather let us say, additional to, His eternal relationship with the Father, long before any work of creation was wrought. “This is My beloved Son” — the eternal Son is owned and sealed also as Son of Man (see Matt. 3:16-1716And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Matthew 3:16‑17)).
The New Testament then is the opening of that period which we speak of as the dispensation of the grace of God. Indeed, it is more than this, for the history of man’s responsibility was closed at the cross, and we now come in on the ground of sovereign grace. God allowed ages to pass (in which man has been put to the test, and in which he has had time to show what he is) without yet accomplishing His work of grace.
This trial of man has served to show that he is bad in nature and in will. The multiplication of God’s means of testing only made it more evident that he was essentially bad at heart, for he availed himself of none of them to draw near to God. On the contrary, his enmity against God was fully manifested.
This dispensation began with the day of Pentecost, consequent upon the resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus, and it will end with His coming for His saints. It has already been longer than any other dispensation — a real display of God’s love and grace.
Kingdom
The millennium begins. It supersedes the four Gentile dominions, which began with Babylon and Nebuchadnezzar. It is the kingdom age, when righteousness reigns. “Thy people also shall be all righteous” (Isa. 60:2121Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. (Isaiah 60:21)). Undoubtedly the nucleus of people with which this period begins, by reason of the outpoured Spirit, will be characterized by genuine conversion (see Isa. 4:33And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem: (Isaiah 4:3); Ezek. 36:24-2724For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. 25Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. (Ezekiel 36:24‑27)).
Creation “shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption” (Rom. 8:2121Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (Romans 8:21)). It will be the rest that remaineth for the people of God (see Heb. 4:99There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. (Hebrews 4:9)), the fullness of which will be enjoyed in eternity. Psalm 72 forecasts this peaceful time, during which Satan lies bound in the bottomless pit.
A King, David’s Son and David’s Lord, reigns over the scene in righteousness. The kingdom shall never be moved nor given to another people, but shall endure so long as kingdoms exist.
The millennium is the last dispensation. It is the final trial of man in responsibility, under the rule of perfect righteousness, for then “a King shall reign in righteousness” (Isa. 32:11Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment. (Isaiah 32:1)).
R. B. Wallace (adapted)