In another article in this issue of The Christian we have looked at the dispensations as being seven distinct ages in God’s way of administration and order in this world. In these distinctions we have included the period of God’s grace — the so-called church period, as a dispensation. This completes the series of seven and fits into the alternating character of the ways in which God works. Yet there are those who argue that since dispensations concern the earth and since the church is a heavenly company, this period of God’s grace, when the church is being formed, is not properly a dispensation. This requires some explanation, for in one sense both sides are right, and there are things to be learned from both viewpoints.
The Heavenly Calling
First of all, we must remember that when the church was formed on the day of Pentecost, it was entirely Jewish, for God was giving the Jews one more chance to receive a testimony of grace from a risen Christ in glory. Had they as a nation repented and recognized Christ as their Messiah, the kingdom would have been set up right away. But “known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world” (Acts 15:1818Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. (Acts 15:18)). Knowing that the Jews would reject even this gracious offer, God had already purposed to bring into His church those from every nation, largely Gentiles, to form a heavenly company. In that sense, the heavenly calling of the church was not made clear until Paul was given the mystery of the church from a risen Christ, and then preached a much fuller gospel than that preached by the other apostles earlier on.
Paul knew the Lord only as a risen Man in the glory, and the revelations given to him were all related to a heavenly calling, heavenly blessings, and a heavenly hope. As another has remarked, “True Christianity begins on the other side of the cloud” (Acts 1:99And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. (Acts 1:9)). In this sense, the church period is unique among all the other dispensations, even those in the past (conscience and promise) where souls were called to walk in separation from this world, while the world went its own way.
The Full Display of Grace
However, while the church is a heavenly company, this period of time is the display of God’s grace to this world, and whether man accepts God’s offer of mercy or not, God is glorified in the display of that which was never seen before in the same way — God’s glory in redemption. Of course, the hints of it were given in all the Old Testament sacrifices, but the full exhibition of God’s grace and love were not made known until after the work on the cross was complete. Thus Satan does not merely blind men to God’s forgiveness; he also blinds men to “the glad tidings of the glory of the Christ” (2 Cor. 4:44In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:4) JND), for God is glorified in His grace, even if men reject it. Thus, in that sense, the church period is a dispensation, and worthy of being included as such.
The Church Period
In another sense, however, if we are to understand Scripture, we must recognize, as we have already stated, the unique position of the church. On the one hand, the church period is never recognized nor considered in the reckoning of prophetic time. It is as if, when the Lord Jesus died, God “stopped the clock of prophetic time” and will not start it again until after the Lord’s coming for us, to call us home. Since prophecy concerns this earth and since the church is a heavenly company, its time on earth is not part of prophecy. The failure to realize this has caused untold confusion among some in the interpreting of prophecy, for to look for the fulfillment of prophecy during this period of God’s grace is a serious mistake. Many continue to do so, and ultimately they find that the pieces just will not fit together. Sometimes this resultant confusion causes Christians to discredit dispensational truth altogether.
We hasten to mention that we are entitled to “see the day approaching” (Heb. 10:2525Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25)), but this is the day of judgment, not the day of our Lord’s coming for us. God may set the stage, so to speak, for what will happen after we are called home, and we are to be intelligent enough to recognize that. Yes, that means that His coming for us is nearer, but it is not a direct sign of His coming for us, nor is it directly the fulfillment of prophecy.
The Mystery of Christ and the Church
But if the church is not the subject of prophecy, the recognition of the heavenly calling of the church is absolutely essential to the understanding of prophecy. When God, through Paul, gave us the understanding of the mystery of Christ and the church — a mystery (or secret) “which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God” (Eph. 3:99And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: (Ephesians 3:9))—the Word of God was complete. According to Colossians 1:2525Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; (Colossians 1:25) JND, Paul could say, “I became minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given me towards you to complete the word of God.” Paul could also refer to “the mystery of God; in which are hid all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge” (Col. 2:22That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; (Colossians 2:2)-3 JnD). As another has aptly said, “Paul gives us the truth of the church, in which all [God’s counsel] is displayed.” Thus the understanding of all the purposes of God is in the revelation of the mystery of Christ and the church.
If we do not understand the mystery of Christ and the church and of the heavenly calling of the church, nothing in prophecy or in the way God has ordered the dispensations will make sense to us. Scriptures will continually be misapplied, and wrong conclusions drawn from them.
Things That Are Not Revealed
In saying all this, we may remark in conclusion that God has not necessarily answered all of our curious questions, nor given us the details of all that He is going to do. There are some things that are clearly shown us in His Word, yet the details of how it will all happen are not given. Men (and dear believers too) have taken this lack of detail and used it to deny that which is clear and definite. When we are dealing with the things of God, we must continually remember not to allow the things we do not understand to spoil our enjoyment of that which we do understand. We must remember that “the spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus” (Rev. 19:1010And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Revelation 19:10) JND). In His Word and through the knowledge of Himself and “Jesus our Lord,” we are assured of having “all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:2-32Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: (2 Peter 1:2‑3)). For the rest, we may be assured that God will work out His purposes perfectly, in His own time and way, and that all that He has said will come to pass.
W. J. Prost