IN studying historical and dispensational truth, the two important elements of time and order necessarily require to be as constantly before the mind, and as fully considered as the facts themselves, before we can arrive at a full and clear apprehension of such facts in all their relative bearings.
However clearly isolated facts of history may be seen, when looked at separately, if their relative order be not also clearly understood, there cannot be a full and correct comprehension of the facts themselves.
In considering the epochs and dispensations of Scripture, and the truths connected with them, it often happens that this important point is not sufficiently borne in mind. Facts are isolated and examined by themselves, and certain conclusions deduced therefrom, without properly considering the connections these truths may have with others in the Word, or the order in which they should be taken. Consequently much misapprehension prevails among Christians with reference to the dispensational truths of Scripture; and especially with regard to prophecy.
This is particularly manifested in the way various statements and predictions of Scripture are mixed up or confused, and entirely misplaced as to time and order, so that their force and specific meaning are completely lost. The habit of selecting and discoursing upon single texts, or portions detached from their context, has largely contributed to this misunderstanding of Scripture; and at the same time has tended to obscure and destroy the order and harmony of the book as a whole.
As a few examples of the confusion occasioned by this inattention to dispensational order, we may cite the following. Frequently we hear it said that there is to be one resurrection of the good and the evil, on the same day at the end of the world. These two facts, it is true, are sometimes stated in the same passage (as in Matt. 25:4040And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Matthew 25:40), and John 5:28, 2928Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:28‑29)), but it is never stated that they will take place at the same time; while in Rev. 20:4, 54And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. (Revelation 20:4‑5), we are taught that there will be two resurrections, with at least a thousand years between them. " They (the saints of the first resurrection) lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished."
Again, it is often asserted that there is to be one judgment of the good and bad together, whereas Scripture teaches that there are to be two (not to mention the judgment of the saints); first, the judgment of the living nations (Matt. 25:3131When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: (Matthew 25:31), and Rev. 19:11-2111And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. 17And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 18That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. 19And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 20And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. (Revelation 19:11‑21)), and then a thousand years after this, the judgment of the dead at the great white throne (Rev. 20:12-1512And 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 20:12‑15)).
So likewise the two stages of the Lord's second coming (i.e., His coming for His saints at the Rapture, and His subsequent appearing with them), are spoken of as one event; while the Word of God shows us that between these two, there is to be an interval of time-the day of tribulation, during which several occurrences are to take place.
With the view of directing special attention to these epochs and dispensations of Scripture, I was led some sixteen years ago to devise the accompanying chart in the hope that by appealing to the eye (by which the understanding and memory are more vividly impressed than by verbal description), their relative position and order might be better understood.
My expectations have, to a certain extent, been realized, for the chart (which has passed through several editions) has been helpful to many, in clearing up certain points in the dispensational and prophetic Scriptures that had been previously misunderstood.
These encouraging results have been brought about simply through the aid afforded by the pictorial design of the chart itself, with the few words of explanation and the Scripture quotations that appear upon it.
As it was my intention, however, from the first, to prepare a short key to the chart, the letters and figures which appear on its lower margin, were inserted for purposes of reference, and are made use of throughout the present volume.
In the course of writing this key, I found so many important truths in the sacred Word, with reference to the subjects before me, that in order to give as clear and comprehensive a view as possible of the different epochs and dispensations, it became necessary to go somewhat more fully into these than was at first intended. Thus the work has considerably expanded during the process of preparation, and may be regarded as something more than a mere key to the chart.
In my efforts to arrange and connect some of the main links of prophecy, which appear to relate to the same periods of time, I have striven to bear in mind, and act upon, the important principle given to us in 2 Peter 1:20-2120Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2 Peter 1:20‑21), " Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." An able writer commenting upon this passage remarks, " The apostle goes on to warn the faithful, that the prophecies of Scripture were not like the utterances of human will, and were not to be interpreted as though each had a separate solution—as though every prophecy were sufficient in itself for the explanation of its full meaning. They were all parts of one whole, having one and the same object, even the kingdom of God; and each event was a preliminary step towards this object, and a link in the chain of God's government which led to it, impossible to be explained, unless the aim of the whole were apprehended-the revealed aim of the counsels of God in the glory of His Christ."
According to this important principle, we see that Scripture becomes its own interpreter, and further, that no prophecy can really be properly understood separately or independently of other prophecies, because all are so many links of one great chain of truth.
These truths may be compared to a grand mosaic composed of a great variety of parts, which by being properly arranged and joined together, form one perfect picture. However much each piece may be admired separately, as beautiful in itself, they must all be fitted exactly in their right places before the whole design can be properly seen and realized. Moreover, it is only then that the value and purpose of each can be appreciated. If one piece be either omitted or misplaced, the picture will, to a certain extent, be marred. So, too, the meaning of any prophecy can only be correctly understood, when the scope and design of the prophetic word as a whole is seen.
As one result of my endeavors (however imperfectly performed) thus to group together some of the leading prophecies, that seem to refer to the same time and circumstances—and that appear to have a direct bearing upon the several epochs and dispensations as a whole—I trust it will be seen, how remarkably these help to throw light upon each other, and that the true key to a right understanding of them will be found in thus viewing and comparing them together.
Indeed, one most delightful and profitable part of my task in tracing out the connecting links of the great dispensational and prophetical chain of truth, has been to note the way in which the various portions gathered from different parts of the Word, dovetail so wonderfully together, and form one grand harmonious whole, bearing upon every line of it the impress of its divine origin and authority.
If my feeble attempts to collect and arrange these precious Scriptures, with the view of showing their divine unity, comprehensiveness, and perfect harmony, lead others to search out for themselves, and more fully apprehend, the glorious purposes of God which He has been so graciously pleased to reveal to us, I shall not have written in vain.
Moreover this little work is sent forth with the earnest prayer that all who read it may be led by the Holy Spirit, as true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, to fully realize and practically enjoy the "blessed hope" of the Lord's personal return, to translate the Church to heaven before the day of tribulation; so that they may be ready for that momentous crisis (now so near at hand), their loins girded about and their lights burning, and they themselves like unto men that wait for their Lord. " Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when He cometh, shall find watching."
JOHN A. SAVAGE.