Dispensations

1. Edenic Dispensation (Innocence). = The Curse
2. Antediluvian Dispensation (Conscience). = The Flood
3. Post-Diluvian Dispensation (Human Government). = Confusion of Tongues Babel
4. Patriarchal Dispensation (Family). = The Cross
5. Legal Dispensation (Law). = The Rapture
6. Ecclesiastical Dispensation. (Grace). The Second Coming
7. Dispensation of Judgment (Tribulation). = The Great White Throne
8. Messianic Dispensation (Righteousness). = Renovation by Fire
9. Perfect Dispensation (Holiness). = New Beginning into EternityA. The Dispensation Work of Christ.
   B. The Dispensation Work of the Holy Spirit.

1. The EDENIC Dispensation: (INNOCENCE)

This dispensation extends from the creation of Adam to the expulsion from the garden. The duration of the dispensation of innocence, we know nothing about, except that it was probably very short.  Mans existence on this planet began under the most favorable circumstances.  The Earth had been restored to its “Primeval Glory.”  The waters swarmed with fish and fowl; the land was one mass of luxuriant verdure, and hills and valleys and plains are covered with flocks and herds of sheep and cattle, and all kinds of beasts and animals.  The air was alive with bird life, and filled with fragrance from fruit and flowers.

There were no storms to terrify and destroy, for the Earth was watered by a midst, and the beauty of the day and night must have been fantastic.  Everything must have been perfect of its kind, for we read that God saw everything He had made and behold, it was “very good.”

But it was not good enough for man, for God took and planted a “Garden” eastward in Eden. A garden in which God caused to grow every tree that was pleasant to the sight and good for food, and in the midst of the garden He planted the “knowledge of good and evil”.  The garden was watered with a beautiful river, and when it was ready God placed Adam in it.  In this garden of matchless delights and amid the scenes of

Indescribable loveliness, with God for his counselor, and angelic beings as visitors, with a sinless nature and environment most favorable to a pure and holy life, the progenitors of the human race were placed.  The conditions were ideal.

But Adam had no companion like unto himself, and because it was not good for him to be alone, for he would be lonely even among such beautiful surroundings, God said, “I will make a help meet for him, and so God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and while he slumbered, the Lord God took a rib from his side and from it made Eve.  Eve allowed herself to look long and hard on the forbidden fruit.  Satan was able to sow a seed of doubt as to what God had said, by taking out the penalty of disobedience, which was death.  (1 Tim 2:13-14)  Eve was deceived, but Adam was not, yet the Apostles still declare that it was her fault.  She had a desire in her heart, when she saw that the tree was good for food, (The Lust of the Flesh) and it was pleasant to the eyes, (The lust of the Eye) and desirable to make one wise, (The Pride of Life).

Adam and Eve were created “Innocent”, but innocence is not.  “Righteousness” until “tested”.  If they had stood the test they would have become righteous and holy, but they failed and fell from Grace, becoming “sinners”.  Now man cannot become Holy until he is “reborn”.  In the fall of man the triumph of Satan was complete.  The first effect of the disobedience, was self-consciousness.  (i.e.)  They saw they were naked.  God had to cover them by the shedding of blood, but also gave them a way prophetically to justify themselves by Faith.  Satan was not given the same opportunity, he was told that Christ would come to bruise his head.  Adam and Eve were then driven out of the Garden and an Angel was left to protect the tree of life;  Thus innocence and a perfect environment are not safeguards against wrong doing.

2. ANTEDILUVIAN Dispensation: (CONSCIENCE)

This dispensation extends from the “fall” to the “flood”.  It lasted for 1656 years, and was the dispensation of conscience.  It shows what man will do when guided only by his conscience. Conscience is knowledge of good and evil, which Adam and Eve did not have till they ate of the fruit.  Conscience may produce fear or remorse, but it will not keep men from doing wrong, because it imparts no power.  Cain and Abel were

Representative lines of, one “wicked and perverse”, the other “holy and righteous”. Satan was the instigator of Abel’s murder, and the author of Cains religion as spoken of in Jude as “The way of Cain.”  This is the origin of ALL “Human Religion”.  Seth was born to replace Able, because Able was childless. During the period where Cain had begun to build up a civilization, Angels fell from their first estate, by cohabiting with the Daughters of Men.  Because they were ignorant of the Law, it did not save them from punishment.

Thus today there are two types of people on the Earth.

1. Those who know of the Gospel through the Gospel.
   2. Those who know of the Gospel but who have not obeyed it. (2 Thess 1:7-10)

Thus while there was no written Law, the Law was written on the tablets of their hearts.

3. The POST-DILUVIAN Dispensation: (Human Government)

If ever the human race had the opportunity to work out the theory of “Human Government” it was right after the Flood.  Noah was an old man (600 years) full of wisdom and experience, and his family, all of whom had revealed manhood and womanhood, for the youngest was Shen (98 years), were qualified for self-government. Behind them was the knowledge of the flood with all its warnings, and in addition the accumulation of the knowledge of Noah from the days of Adam.  They had a “new covenant” called the “Noachic Covenant.”  (Gen 8:20-22).  Noah also reestablished the true mode of worship by erecting an Altar and sacrificing thereon.  God once again commanded Noah to be “fruitful and multiply” and replenish the Earth, but instead of scattering, their posterity kept together and began building the tower of Babel.

This was disobedience, so God came down to confuse the speech.  (Gen 11:1-9)  The only name remembered is Nimrod, and here we have the beginning of all the Languages of the Earth.  This miracle was reversed at Pentecost. (Act 2:4)  Thus we can see that in ANY dispensation, first there is an Advancement, in fullness and clearness of revelation, then an Amalgamation with the world, then a gigantic civilization, brilliant but Godless, then parallel development of good and evil, the Apostasy, finally catastrophe.

4. PATRIARCHAL Dispensation: (FAMILY)

This dispensation extended from the “call of Abraham” to the “Exodus” a period of 430 years.  And is known as the dispensation of the Family.  After the dispensation from Babel, the descendants of Noah and his sons became idolaters.  So God chose one family to start over with.  Abraham was chosen and he proved to be a mighty man of Faith, but his father was an idolater.  The sons of Abraham began to degenerate and this dispensation ended in slavery in Egypt.  The last words of the book of Genesis being “a coffin in Egypt”.

5. The LEGAL Dispensation: (LAW)

This dispensation extended from the “Exodus” to the “Birth of Christ” a period of 1491 years.  And is known as the dispensation of the Law.  God sent a deliverer in the form of Moses, and proceeded to organize a commonwealth with laws and regulations and a “visible” system of worship with a local place of worship. This government was to be “Theocratic”. (i.e.) That He himself would appoint.  This was a wonderful period in that it was full of the “miraculous interposition” of God in behalf of His people.  Thus

He watched over and protected them.

6. The ECCLESIASTICAL Dispensation: (GRACE)

This dispensation extends from the “Cross” to the “Crown” for Christ, and from the “Descent of the Holy Spirit” to the “Rapture of the Church” at the 2nd coming of Christ for the Believer.  This dispensation is a Parenthetical Dispensation, thrown in between the “Dispensation” of Israel, and their “Restoration” to their own land. The purpose of this dispensation is to gather out a “people for His Name,” called the “Church,”

Composed of both Jews and Gentiles. This purpose of God was not revealed in the Old Testament Scriptures, and was unknown to the Patriarchs and Prophets.  Christ first hinted at it, when He said of Peters confession, (Math 16:18)  “On this rock I will build my Church,” (Eph 3:9)

Paul calls it, “The Mystery, which in other ages (Old Testament Ages) was not made known to the sons of men,” “It was hid in god from the beginning of the world.”  That the Gentiles were to be “saved” was no mystery. (Rom 9:24-30) The Mystery was the fact of the purpose of God to “unite the Jew and Gentile,” in a wholly “new thing” the Church, which is Christ’s body.  (1 Cor 12:12-13)  In this Dispensation we are under the “Davidic Covenant,” the sign of which is “A Son”, Jesus, and neither Jew nor Gentile is dealt with as such. God is not dealing with Nations today, but rather Individuals. The characteristics of this dispensation is that “Blindness in part” has happened to Israel, until the “Fullness of the Gentiles be came in.”  (Rom 11:25)  God is calling out through the Agency of the Holy Spirit individuals from both Jesus and Gentiles to form a New Body, the Church.  The “New Body” is not under Law but Grace.

7. Dispensation of JUDGMENT (TRIBULATION)

This is between the “Ecclesiastical Dispensation” and the “Millennial Dispensation”. This is also another Parenthetical Dispensation, during which the Jews, Gentiles, and Church are to be judged, not as individuals, but as Nations.  The Church is to be caught out at the beginning of this dispensation and is to be judged at the “Judgment Seat of Christ”.  (2 Cor 5:10)  The Jews are to be judged during the dispensation under the Anti-Christ on the Earth.  Their judgment is known as the “Time of Jacobs Trouble”. (Jer 30:4-7) (Dan 12:1).

The Gentiles (The Nations) are to be judged at the close of the Tribulation, when the Lord Jesus Christ shall descend from Heaven and sit on the “Throne of His Glory” at Jerusalem, and all Nations shall be gathered in their representatives before Him, and the “Sheep Nations” shall be rewarded by entrance into the Millennial Kingdom, and the “Goat Nations,” as Nations, shall be destroyed.  (Math 25:31-46)

8. MESSIANIC Dispensation: (RIGHTEOUSNESS)

The Millennial Age, or 1000 years, of which Satan is bound and Christ shall reign on this Earth. (Rev 20:1-7) Satan will then be loosed for a period, and man shall still end this dispensation in Apostasy. God will deal with mankind as a whole, made up of Nations.  The Church will not be on the Earth, only as it is represented by those who will assist Christ the King, in His Administration of the Millennial Kingdom.

The Jews as a Nation will be the Head of the Nations.  (Duet 28:13)  While they will in part observe the “Ceremonial Law,” they will be under a “New Covenant”.  (Jer 31:31-37)  The Principle under which God will deal with men in those days will not be Law, Grace or Judgment, but Righteousness.  The Government will be based on “Righteousness.”  It will be an “Autocratic Government,” for Christ will rule with a “Rod of Iron”.  (Isa 11:1,4) (Rev 2:27   19:15) (Psa 2:9)  but that rule will be based on Love.

9. The PERFECT Dispensation:

At the close of the “Millennial Age,”  the present Earth is to be “Renovated by Fire,” the outcome of which will be a “New Heaven” and a “New Earth”, wherein dwelleth Righteousness.  (2 Pet 3:13).  It is this “Perfect Kingdom” is also a Dispensation, the dispensation of the fullness of time.  (Eph 1:10)  The Millennial Kingdom and the Perfect Kingdom make up the “Kingdom of the Son of Man”.

The Ages of the Ages:

As the creative ages were the “Alpha” Ages, these will be the “Omega” ages.  With the surrender of the Perfect Kingdom to the Father, what we speak of as time ceases, and the Eternity Ages, called the Ages of the Ages begin.  Paul called it the Ages to com. (Eph 2:7) (Rev 20:10)  We are not told what will happen during this next period, but we shall be part of it, and Eternity, the Ages of the Ages, would just have begun, and we shall see the development of it.

The Dispensation Work of the Lord Jesus Christ:

The Eternal Christ is not just His “Earthly life” on the “days of His flesh”, but the working from eternity to eternity of which Calvary, the work of His atonement is just one phase.  Matthew traces Jesus back to Abraham (Math 1:1-7) Luke to Adam (Luke 3:23-38) and John to God.  (John 1:1-2)  Jesus said of Himself, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, the first and the last, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”  (Rev 1:8-11).  Jesus thus identifies Himself with God, and confirms His Earthly statement – “I and my Father are one.”  (John 10:30)

John tells us (John 1:14)  that the word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His Glory (on the Mount of Transfiguration) the Glory as of the only begotten of the Father.  (John 17:5)  Jesus prayed to the Father, “Glorify me with thine own self with the Glory which I had with thee before the world was.”

1. Christ’s Past Life and Work:

The office work of Christ is threefold:

1. Prophet
   b. Priest
   c. King

Which are successive, not conjointly? His “Prophetic Work”, extends from Creation to His Ascension; His “Priestly Work”, extends from His Ascension to the Rapture of the Church; and His “Kingly Work,” extends from His Revelation at the close of the Tribulation Period, until He surrenders the Kingdom to the Father, that “God may be All in All.” (1 Cor 15:28) His past life and work may be divided into 3 Periods.

1. Christ’s Work in Creation:

(John 1:1-3) In the beginning was the word, and the Word was with God, and the word was God.  The same was in the beginning of God.  All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made.” (1 Col 1:16-17) “For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in Earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions or principalities, or powers;  All things were created by Him, and For Him; and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.”

While all things were made by Christ, He was aided by the Father and the Holy Spirit.  (Gen 1:26) God said, (The Divine 3), “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.”  The work of the Father was the creation of matter, the work of the Son, the formation of matter into all its various forms, and the work of the Holy Spirit to give life to such forms as Love life. 2. Christ’s work from Creation to His Incarnation:

With the Creation of man, the “Creative Work” of Christ ceased.  (Gen 2:2)  “On the 7th Day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the 7th Day.”  From that time His work has been that of “Supervision and Redemption.”  In (Gen 2:4) we find the word “God” changed to  “Lord God.”  This is because the Hebrew name for “God” as “Creator” is “Elohim”. The name as “Redeemer” is “Jehovah”, translated “Lord.”

4. Names are given in Genesis which reveal some distinct attributes of God.
5. Elohim   – God.
   b.  Jehovah   – Lord.
   c.  El Shaddai – God Almighty.
   d.  El Elyon   – Most High.

Jehovah has  7 compound names  that reveal Him as meeting every need of man.

1. i) Jehovah – Jireh – The Lord will provide. (Gen 22:13-14). That is, provide a sacrifice.
   ii) Jehovah – Rapha – The Lord that Healeth. (Ex 15:26).
   iii) Jehovah – Nissi – The Lord our Banner. (Ex 17:8-15).
   iv) Jehovah – Shalom – The Lord our Peace. (Jud 6:23-24).
   v) Jehovah – Raah – The Lord my Shepherd. (Psa 23).
   vi) Jehovah – Tsidkenu – The Lord our Righteousness. (Jer 23:6).
   vii) Jehovah – Shammah – The Lord is Present. (Ez 48:35).
2. Christ’s Work from His Incarnation to His Ascension:

Now it is a “Principle of Law” that the Penalty of a broken Law must fall on the breaker of the Law, or on a substitute, otherwise the Law is of no effect.  An “Atonement” then is any “Provision” that may be introduced into the Administration of a Government, whereby that Government may on Just, Safe and Honorable Grounds grant on Pardon to the Offender. (Col 2:13-14) “All you being dead in your sins and uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross.”

1. Christ’s present Life and Work:

Christ’s present work is that of High Priest. He is now tarrying within the veil.  As the

High Priest entered through the “veil” into the Most Holy Place” once a year, on the “Day of Atonement,” to present the blood of the sacrifice and make intercession for the sins of the people, so Jesus entered into the “Holy of Holies” of the Heavenly Tabernacle when He ascended and passed through the “veil of the cloud” and disappeared from Earthly view.  (Acts 1:9) (Heb 4:14).  “For Christ is not entered into the Holy Places made of hands, (such as the Temple) which are figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.  (Heb 9:24)   Heaven not Earth is the sphere of Christ’s Priestly ministry.  Jesus thus having, as our High Priest, taken His own blood, within the “Veil”, is still engaged in His High Priestly work, and will continue to do so and tarry throughout this “Great Day of Atonement,” and at the close He will lay aside His High Priestly robes and come forth in His Kingly dress of “Glory and Beauty”,  to rule and reign in Kingly splendor.

1. Christ’s Future Life and Work:

Christ’s Future work is that of King. When Christ has finished His High Priestly work, He will leave His Fathers Throne and descend into the atmosphere of this Earth to meet His espoused Bride, the Church. (1 Thess 4:15-18)  He will then accompany His bride back to heaven, and taking His place on the “judgment seat of Christ”,

(Rom 14:10) will judge the saints and reward them according to their works, after which He will present the Church to Himself, “a Glorious Church,” not having spot, or wrinkle, or blemish. (Eph 5:27) Then follows the marriage of the Lamb. (Rev 19:6-9). Then, having received the Kingdom from the Father, Christ accompanied by the armies of Heaven, will descend to the earth, and the battle of Armageddon will be fought.  (Rev 19:11-21) following which He will sit upon the “Throne of His Glory” and judge the Nations.  (Math 25:31-46)  After which the Millennial Kingdom will be set up.  At its

Soon Satan will be loosed from the Bottomless Pit, there will be a great Apostasy, and fire will descend from heaven and destroy the wicked.  The Heaven and Earth will be renovated by fire, and the New heaven and Earth will appear, upon which shall be placed righteous nations taken from the Old Earth, over which Christ shall reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, until such time as He shall see fit to surrender the Kingdom to the Father, that God may be all in all.  (1 Cor 15:28).

The Dispensational Work of the Holy Spirit:

(Heb 9:14) The Holy Spirit, as the 3rd Person in the Godhead, has existed from all eternity.

1. i) The Work of the Holy Spirit in Creation:

(Job 26:13) “By His Spirit He hath garnished the heavens.”  The Holy Spirit brought life to all creation by breathing into all animated creation.  (i.e.)  He breathed into Adams nostrils the “breath of life,” and an became a living soul.  (Gen 1:2)  The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.  Here we have the Holy Spirit restoring the Earth to its Primeval State.  Thus His work was to impart and restore life.

1. ii) The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Dispensation from the fall to the Flood:

The dispensation of “Conscience,” the work of the Holy Spirit was to “strive” with men through their conscience to live better lives.  (Gen 6:3)

iii) The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Dispensation from the Flood to the Birth of Jesus:

This Period included 3 Dispensations:

1. Post-Diluvian
   2. Patriarchal
   3. Legal.

The Holy Spirit came and went, using specific individuals to do special service.  Thus He had to fit men for some special work.

1. iv) The Work of the Holy Spirit in the “Parenthetical Dispensation” between the Old and New Testament Dispensations:

The work of the Holy Spirit through this dispensation had to do mainly with the Earthly life of Jesus.

1. He was “conceived” by the Holy Spirit. (Luke 1:30-31)(Luke 1:34-35) (Math 1:18-20).
   b. He was “baptized” by the Holy Spirit. (Math 3:16) (Luke 4:1)
   c. He was led by the Holy Spirit into the Wilderness to be tempted  (tested). (Math 4:1) (Luke 4:1-2)
   d. He performed “mighty works” by the power of the Holy Spirit.  (Acts 10:38)
   e. He was “anointed to Preach” by the Holy Spirit. (Luke 4:18)
   f. He “died on the cross”, through the Holy Spirit. (Heb 9:14)
   g. He was “raised from the dead” by the Holy Spirit. (1 Pet 3:18)
   h. He gave “His Post Resurrection Directions” to the Apostles through the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:1-2)
2. v) The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Dispensation from Pentecost to the 2nd Coming of Christ: This is preeminently the “Dispensation of the Holy Spirit.” The Old Testament was that of the Father, now is the Holy Spirit and the Millennial Dispensation will be that of the Son. Jesus said to His disciples, “It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away the Comforter (The Holy Spirit) will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.” (John 16:7). This clearly teaches that the Holy Spirit in a person, and that He and Jesus cannot reside on the Earth at the same time.  The Holy Spirit has a specific work in this dispensation, which is the formation of the “Body of Christ”, the Church, into which we are baptized by the Holy Spirit.  (1 Cor 12:13,27).  The Holy Spirit took up His residence on the Earth at Pentecost.  (Acts 2:1-4) and will remain on the Earth until the Church is complete and then He will escort it to meet the Lord in the air at the Rapture.  His habitat is our Bodies, which is His Temple.  (1 Cor 6:19) (1 Cor 3:16).

The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Church:

The Holy Spirit, by virtue of His residence in the Church, is “the Presiding Officer of the Church,” or the “Vicar of the Lord Jesus Christ.” To Him has been committed the administration of the affairs of the Church. In (Acts 15:13-29) is an account of the first Church Council, “For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us,” implying that the Holy Ghost was present in the council, and acted in an official capacity.  (Acts 5:3) Says that Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Ghost.  (Acts 13:2-4)  The Holy Ghost separated Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto He had called them. (Acts 20:28).

The Holy Ghost had made the Ephesian Elders overseers over the Flock.  Thus we can clearly see that the Pastors and Elders were chosen by the Holy Ghost, and not by the suffrage of the people. Notice that Man drew lots for another Apostle and they chose Mathias, but the Holy Spirit chose Paul.  (Gal 1:1)

NOTE: (Math 18:19) We normally say that if any “two agree”, but the word (translated agree means “sympathy” in its root form. Thus they must be tuned by the Holy Spirit, else they will not be in agreement with the “Mind of the Spirit”, and cannot ask according to the “will of God”. There may be an agreement which is sinful. (i.e.) “How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord.” (Acts 5:9) This must be “discard” not “mutual accord,” with the Holy Spirit. It is not enough that two persons agree with each other; they must be in accord with a third, the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirits work in the World: (John 16:8-11) “And He when He is come, will:

1. Convict the world in respect of sin
   b. and of righteousness
   c. and of judgment; of Sin, because they believe not on me; of Righteousness, because I go to the Father, and ye behold me no more; of judgment because the Prince of this world has been judgment.
2. vi) The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Parenthetical Dispensation between Rapture and Revelation: This dispensation is commonly called the Millennium and the Holy Spirits work is foretold in (Joel 2:28-32). Part of this was accomplished at Pentecost, which was the First Fruits. This prophecy has reference to the Millennial Dispensation, because it speaks of Blood and Fire and Pillars of Smoke, thus this prophecy has been fore filled in part, by the pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon all flesh.