R. B. Wallace
The dispensation of the grace of God
The New Testament begins with that inscrutable mystery, the incarnation. "Great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh." "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." This was the dawning of the day which Abraham saw by faith when he offered up Isaac, his "only son Isaac." "Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it, and was glad," although Abraham's faith doubtless carried him right on to that which is yet to come, the "morning without clouds.”
It is the opening of that period spoken of as "the dispensation of the grace of God." First, Jesus as Messiah is presented to "His own," the little remnant left in the land from the days of Ezra and Nehemiah.
In Matthew He is presented as their king: "Behold thy king cometh." As Messiah, His genealogy is here traced in an ascending scale. The line of Joseph should have been reigning, but Herod upon the throne tells a sad story of awful decline. Moses had said, "A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; Him shall ye hear." Acts 7:3737This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear. (Acts 7:37). He was of the seed royal, of the house of David. But they knew not the day of their visitation, and soon their Messiah is rejected: "We will not have this Man to reign over us.”
In Mark's gospel the Lord Jesus is presented as the perfect servant, so there is no genealogy given here, for one does not record the lineage of a servant. His wonderful and perfect service as a Man among men is especially reflected in this gospel.
Luke presents our Lord as the Son of man. The moral setting, we may say, gives in some measure His human biography. The genealogy goes back until Adam is reached, "which was the son of God." In this we get the line of Mary, of whom He was born, the woman's seed (Gen. 3:1515And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:15)). It is doubtless Mary's genealogy that we get in Luke, just as it is that of Joseph in Matthew. Comparing Matt. 1:1616And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. (Matthew 1:16) with Luke 3:2323And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, (Luke 3:23), there can be no doubt but that Joseph was the son-in-law of Heli; that is, Mary was a descendant of David.
John unfolds to our hearts the Son of God in all His moral, personal and official glories. He was the glory that tabernacled among men, even the Eternal Word, made flesh.
The book of Acts is historical. Instead of it being called the Acts of the Apostles, it should be called the Acts of the Holy Spirit. It testifies of the crucified One, now ascended to the right hand of God, beheld by the quickened spiritual sight of Stephen in the hour of his martyrdom. It records the transition from Judaism to Christianity.
The Epistles follow and are doctrinal, practical and prophetical, and the canon of Scripture closes with the Apocalypse, the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
Reviewing in more detail this dispensation, the day of grace, we find it opens with the birth of Christ. For 33 years the Light shined among men until God hid His face from the Lord Jesus Christ in the blackness and darkness of Calvary, while Jesus was there as the sin-bearer. The world never saw Him after those three hours of darkness. Matt. 23:3939For 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 23:39) was doubtless uttered in view of this fact: "Ye shall not see Me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.”
So also Hos. 5:1515I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early. (Hosea 5:15): "I will go and return to My place, till they acknowledge their offense, and seek My face: in their affliction they will seek Me early." Ephraim's sin was idolatry, while Judah rejects the Messiah. After Jesus arose from the dead He showed Himself alive for 40 days, the perfect period of manifestation, to establish the truth of His resurrection.
Notice that all of these many appearances were confined to His own. It was as if to crown the transcendent infamy of the Jews and the world of that day in crucifying Jesus, after the blessed One had ascended and was yet "standing at the right hand of God," in waiting grace. The added testimony of the Holy Spirit as to His resurrection and ascension glory is rejected, and Stephen became the target upon whom their rage was vented. They stoned him and sent him back to his Master. Thus the first martyr "fell asleep.”
The testimony of a risen and ascended Jesus being rejected, the Holy Spirit now takes charge of the counsels of God respecting the Church. In Matt. 16:1818And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18) Jesus had said, "I will build My church." The foundation was laid in the cross and the superstructure began to rise on the day of Pentecost, which was the Church's beginning. The Church, the "ecclesia," the called-out ones, the body of Christ, is formed by the Holy Spirit baptizing all believers into one body (1 Cor. 12:1313For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13)). So the Church began her journey through a great and terrible wilderness—yet not such as tested Israel, but a moral wilderness, and she becomes, just in the measure in which she is true to her Lord, a stranger and pilgrim. She finds it a place where there are no springs abounding with water, but can say, "All My springs are in Thee.”
The Church is an exotic plant; her roots are in heaven and she is seen as such in Eph. 1:33Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (Ephesians 1:3) and John 17:1616They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. (John 17:16). Nature's resources do not avail for faith in the valley of Baca, the place of weeping and bitterness. But looking upon the face of the Anointed, "beholding as in a glass [that is, with unveiled face] the glory of the Lord," the place is changed into a well, the rain filling the pools. It is thus that the desert yields a song (Num. 21:16, 1716And from thence they went to Beer: that is the well whereof the Lord spake unto Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them water. 17Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it: (Numbers 21:16‑17)).
In the former dispensation Israel walked by sight, led by the cloud; the Church walks by faith. The experiences Israel passed through we are told happened unto them for ensamples, and they are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the age are come. God's external dealings with His ancient people are now suspended and Israel is sifted as corn among all nations (Amos 9:8, 98Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, saith the Lord. 9For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth. (Amos 9:8‑9)). Jerusalem is downtrodden by the Gentiles "until the times of the Gentiles" are fulfilled (Luke 21:2424And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (Luke 21:24)).
As of old, Jehovah held back the tide of judgment until the iniquity of the Amorite was full. So now the Gentiles, the wild olive tree which through grace was grafted in to partake of the root and fatness, has become boastful and high-minded and awaits the cutting off (Rom. 11:2222Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. (Romans 11:22)). The whole history of the Church from her beginning at Pentecost is written in symbolic language in Rev. 2 and 3.
Rev. 1 shows us 7 golden candlesticks and light-bearers giving complete and precious testimony. Everything in this book is complete; it is closing and final testimony. We have 7 spirits, 7 lamps of fire, 7 stars, 7 candlesticks, 7 eyes, 7 horns, 7 seals, 7 angels, 7 trumpets, 7 vials, and 7 plagues. Chapters 2 and 3 give us 7 successive stages of the Church's history.
1. Ephesus: It is here in the beginning that affection of heart was at its height, and it was here at the close of the Ephesian character of the Church that affection had failed. The love of many had waxed cold. Zeal abounded, but affection waned. Works, labor and patience were in evidence, but not the work of faith and labor of love and patience of hope. "I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love." A sense of relationship lost, and love losing its jealous character soon allows "deeds" of the Nicolaitans to become "doctrine." So began clerical domination, conquering or lording it over the people. Beloved, beware! Be warned of waning affection. Paul knew the subtlety of the world's charms and by the Spirit exclaims, "I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ." "Does the Spirit which has taken His abode in us desire enviously?" He is intensely jealous of our hearts that they may be kept for Christ. Divided affection is the seed of spiritual decline.
2. Smyrna: Smarting under the lash of the persecutor while suffering for Him is the lot of Smyrna. She is characterized by tribulation and poverty, but He says, "Thou art rich." Persecution which impoverishes the saints here, enriches them for eternity, "as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things." 2 Cor. 6:1010As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. (2 Corinthians 6:10). Suffering in faithfulness unto death is rewarded by a crown of life. How truthfully it has been said, "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church." They that were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen traveled everywhere preaching the Word. The "ten" days of pagan persecution which Smyrna passed through was perhaps greater than that of the apostles' day.
3. Pergamos: The word means marriage. Here we have the heavenly bride mingling with an earthly, idolatrous world. That which was allowed only as deeds in Ephesus became doctrine in Pergamos. Now we have priestly pretensions. Here also is the doctrine of Balaam; spiritual fornication was held, which bore the fruit of corruption in Thyatira. The Church no longer a stranger and pilgrim, succumbs to the wooing of the world, and the world becomes the ruler of the Church. This began about 316 A.D. when Constantine professed Christianity. It is the old story of Balaam and Israel; failing to curse the people, he accomplished his purpose by corrupting them.
4. Thyatira: This is papacy: the Church arrogating to herself authority to teach, assuming to delegate infallibility to fallible man, and setting up claims to be the ruler of the world. This doctrine is well known to historians as the doctrine of "the holy Roman empire." The state of the Church is so low in Thyatira that she is only fit to be represented by that blasphemous and infamous woman Jezebel. The dark days of the Middle Ages are crimson records of her fearful iniquity and cruelty.
But even in such a state the Lord has His own, for He speaks of some in the midst of her as "My servants." Here a little remnant becomes manifest and goes on concurrently with the succeeding three stages of the Church until the testimony closes. Mercy precedes judgment and of Thyatira He says, "I gave her space to repent... and she repented not." Rome never repents. Her doom is pronounced. "I will kill her children with death." Rev. 2:2323And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. (Revelation 2:23).
5. Sardis: We get here the state of Protestantism which grew up after the dark ages through the untiring zeal of the reformers. But we get "the established church," not the primitive form of Christianity of apostolic days. It has been said that in popery we see the Church assuming to govern the world; in Protestantism we see the world governing the Church. Sardis is addressed thus: "Thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead." We are exhorted to turn away from a form of godliness where the power is denied. Great enthusiasm wrought up by perfect human organizations is not power. It is not the spontaneity of the Spirit.
6. Philadelphia: The name means brotherly love. In this state which grew out of Protestantism we find a feeble testimony, but accompanied by an open door which no man can shut. The three things which characterize Philadelphia are stated thus:
a. Thou hast a little strength.
b. And hast kept My Word.
c. And hast not denied My name.
Strength consists not in numbers, a lesson which David had to learn at awful cost to his people. "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." Zech. 4:66Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6).
“Kept My word" does not mean that Christendom has preserved the Bible from the attacks of infidels. No, the Word is absolutely indestructible; it is the Word of God which "liveth and abideth forever." What the Spirit contemplates here is obedience and owning of the lordship of Christ. This is what is precious to Him. "To obey is better than sacrifice.”
And lastly, "My name" has not been denied. To be linked with His name is to walk in holiness and truth, to repudiate and refuse all human names however eminent in scholarship or piety. "Thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love Thee." Sol. 1:33Because of the savor of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee. (Song of Solomon 1:3). It is only here and now as strangers and pilgrims that we may emulate those early saints who rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.
7. Laodicea: This is the last phase of the professing Church's history on earth. Here the people are justifying themselves. They are settling down, lulled to sleep in the lap of a luxurious world and saying peace where there is no peace. She says, "I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing." What an appalling state! And yet, even here there are souls who will form part of the bride of Christ, and will be caught up to meet Him. But when Laodicea merges into Babylon the Great, it is a state in which no saints by heavenly calling are found. She is proud and boastful, but loathsome to Christ. Her nauseating lukewarmness and independence call down His judgment. Rich and needing nothing, not even Him, she is in His sight wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.
Are we not now in the very last days of this abhorrent, insipid and nauseating state of profession? "The night is far spent, the day is at hand." Beloved saints of God, it is high time to awake out of sleep. Are we not already in the gray dawn of the fourth watch, a dawn soon to be lighted up by the rays of the approaching Bright and Morning Star? Look up, the morning comes, but, for this poor world, also the night.
The rapture (which means "I seize") of the Church will surely occur shortly. Then the sleeping saints will be raised first, that they may have part in the first resurrection, the resurrection out from among dead men. This is the "out resurrection" of Mark 9:1010And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean. (Mark 9:10), and Phil. 3:1111If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. (Philippians 3:11). Then the living saints, the Church on earth, are caught up with them to meet the Lord in the air. The Holy Spirit (He who restrains) will be taken out of the way (2 Thess. 2:77For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. (2 Thessalonians 2:7)). The unsaved left behind, frenzied with fear, seeking their loved ones, will be like the children of the prophets in the days of Elijah, searching for the translated prophet, but seeking in vain. "They sought three days, but found him not." 2 Kings 2:1717And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not. (2 Kings 2:17). Of Enoch also it is said that he "was not [found]," indicating the fruitless search for the raptured saint who walked with God.
The Church, now safely sheltered in the glory in the Father's house to go out no more, bows in holy reverence before the One who sits on the throne, and worships her worthy Lord. We next see Him honored by an ever-widening circle of redeemed creation until ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands are ascribing blessing and honor and glory and power unto the Lamb.