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The Seven Dispensation of Man
In the Plan and purpose of God the seven
dispensations of man are between the 2
eternities. It commences with the
creation of Adam and Eve in paradise and
culminates in the new heaven and new
earth where an eternal perfect existence
will prevail.
The seven
dispensations are
The beginning and end of a dispensation
are always marked by dramatic events
associated with the unfolding of a new
aspect of God’s plan for the ages. They
are also accompanied by intensified
demonic activities as Satan then tries
everything in his power to upset God’s
plan. The main characteristics of the
seven dispensations are as follows
The Dispensation of Innocence
It is so-called because man lived in
perfect innocence
Genesis 1:31
And God saw every thing that he had
made, and, behold, it was very good. God
saw all his creation including man and
behold even man was very good. This was
the period of time when man was put
under test.
During this period man had to comply
with only one condition
Genesis 2:16
And the LORD God commanded the man,
saying, Of every tree of the garden thou
mayest freely eat:
Genesis 2:17
But of the tree of the knowledge of good
and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for
in the day that thou eatest thereof thou
shalt surely die.
The length of this dispensation is not
known. It may have been short or long.
Before his fall man had not yet visited
and eaten of the tree of life when the
fall came (Genesis 3:22-24). The
dispensation ended before man had
offspring
Characterstic of
this period:
Everything was perfect, sinless, and
under man's dominion. Man was in total
control and had complete authority over
all of God’s creation.
The period ended with man disobeying the
word of God and eating of the fruit that
God told him not to eat ( Gen 3:6 )
Man is judged and curse enters the world
Six Great Curses on Creation:
Upon the serpent (Genesis 3:14-15)
Upon Satan (Genesis 3:15; Romans 16:20)
Upon woman (Genesis 3:16)
Upon man (Genesis 3:17-19; Romans
5:12-21)
Upon earth (Genesis 3:17-19)
Upon all creation (Genesis 3:14-19;
Isaiah 65:25; Romans 8:19-23)
Alongwith the curse God makes a
provision for redemption
God's provision of redemption. God
promised a Redeemer who would come and
restore man's dominion Genesis 3:15 And
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.
Dispensation of Conscience
There were no written laws,
The only law given to man at creation
was not to eat of the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil and after
being driven out of the garden he didn't
even have that law (Romans 5:12-14).
It was the age when man was expected to
live as per his conscience.
This dispensation could be called the
Age of Freedom, for man was free to do
as he pleased until it became necessary
for God to interfere.
Period of this
dispensation
1,656 years, from Adam's fall to the
600th year of Noah (Genesis 5:1-29;
Genesis 7:6,11).
Characteristics of
this period
It was a new beginning altogether, with
inhabitants having a knowledge of God
and a new covenant with Him. Freedom of
will and conscience was what man chose
in the fall, so God permitted him to go
to the full limit of wickedness that he
might learn the folly of his own choice,
and so that all coming generations might
profit.
The period is characterized by
Genesis 4:4,5 - The LORD having respect
unto Abel and to his offering and having
no respect for Cain’s offering
The first murder
Failure of Cain's descendants (Genesis
4:17-24)
Failure of Seth's descendants (Genesis
4:25-5:32)
Failure of the daughters of men who
sinned
Appearance of giants in the earth (
Genesis 6:4 )
Genesis 4:26 -Men began to call upon the
name of the LORD after the birth of Enos
The period ends with Judgment for sin
and corruption ( Genesis 6:12 )
resulting in the flood of Noah
God's provision of redemption His grace
and mercy in giving man another chance
to continue in God's eternal plan
(Genesis 6:8-22)
Dispensation of Human Government
It is so called because of the fullness
of grace brought by Jesus Christ (John
1:16-17).
Period of this
dispensation
Length from the preaching of Christ
(Matthew 11:11; Luke 16:16) to the
second coming of Jesus Christ.
Characteristic of
this dispensation
Noah and his sons and
their wives come through the flood and
thus have the experience and knowledge
of the prior dispensation. They know
of the utter depravity of man and they
know that God's Word is final and His
judgment severe!
God adds the following
new commands: "Every moving thing that
liveth shall be meat for you ..." (Gen
9:3), They were not to eat the blood
though, (Gen 9:4).
Fear and dread of man
was upon every living creature (Gen
9:2)
Death penalty and man
ruling over man was introduced (Gen
9:5-6)
God reminded them of
one of the first commandments: be
fruitful and multiply and replenish
the earth (Gen 8:17, 9:1, 9:7)
Noah offered blood
sacrifices of every clean beast and
fowl after the pattern of Abel. This
was a sweet smelling savour to God
(Gen 8:20-22). (We also see somewhat
of God's character, He responds to
Noah's offering in a very interesting
way ...)
God made a covenant
between himself and man (Gen 9:8-17).
God gave the rainbow as a perpetual
token of this covenant which would
last all dispensations from then on.
Human government was
then seen in the huge multiplication
on the earth and the many cities and
lands which were built and ruled by
the families which built them (Gen
10:5, 10:10-32, also 1 Chron 1:5-27).
Something divided the
earth (Gen 10:25).
Whole earth was of one
language (Gen 11:1)
Man did not learn from
the prior dispensation and quickly
forgot their creator.
There is no record of
any walking with God or pleasing God
in this dispensation.
The Failure of the Test:
Noah got drunk on the
wine of his own vineyard and was naked
in his tent and thus began the next
roller-coaster ride to destruction.
Ham disgraced his
father by revealing his father's
nakedness to his brothers and Shem and
Japheth had to cover him (Gen
9:21-23).
Noah then cursed Ham,
the father of Canaan and blessed Shem
and Japheth (Gen 9:25-27).
Ham began the next evil
line. One of his descendents, Nimrod
is claimed to be the founder of cults
and idolatry which are still practiced
widely today.
Men then banded
together and with pride announced that
they wanted to make a name for
themselves (glorify themselves) and
make a city and a tower which may
reach Heaven (this sounds like us
today who leave God out of the picture
wanting only to glorify and make a
name for ourselves) (Gen 11:4).
They had forgotten God
The Judgment:
God confounds (confuses) their language
and scatters them over the whole earth
(Gen 11:6-9).
Dispensation of Promise
It is so called because of the covenant
God made with Abraham and to his seed.
It is the first time that God decides to
select a people for himself with who he
makes a covenant
The characterstic
of the Covenant
Genesis 12:2
And I will make of thee a great nation
I will bless thee
I will make thy name great
Thou shalt be a blessing
Genesis 12:3
And I will bless them that bless thee
and curse him that curseth thee
and in thee shall all families of the
earth be blessed.
Observe that the main components of the
covenant are blessing and Increase. Now
Abraham's seed was designated as the
special line through whom Christ should
come. In this age many promises and
predictions were made to this end
(Genesis 12:3)
Period of this
dispensation
From the time of Abraham's call at 75
years of age to the exodus from
Egypt—430 years (Exodus 12:40). God
decided to use this man to fulfil his
plan for all. He promised that the
Messiah should come through them. He
made a covenant of circumcision with
them which is a sign that they are his
people and he is their God ( Genesis
17:9 -14)
God expected them to have faith in him,
obey Him, remain separated from all
other nations and walk before him and be
perfect ( Genesis 17:1)
Dispensation of Law
It is so-called because of the law given
to Moses
With the introduction of the
dispensation of the law a much clearer
distinction was made between good and
evil During this period God revealed his
laws through Moses to the children of
Israel who he had selected . The law was
based on the principle that if they
obeyed and served God they would be
blessed but if they disobeyed and
rebelled they would be punished with a
curse. Through these laws God defined
righteousness and sin.
During this period God raised up
prophets who revealed the word to his
children. satan concentrated on Israel
to induce them to sin in an effort to
subvert and nullify their calling as a
special people of God. These efforts
were greatly increased when the time
came for the Messiah to be born. Satan
must have been extremely infuriated with
the announcement from heaven that the
Messiah’s Name would be Jesus and that
He will save His people from their sins
(Matthew 1:21). satan then took
possession of Herod and incited him to
massacre all male children under the age
of two years in an effort to kill Jesus.
When this evil plan failed he first
tried in the wilderness to tempt Jesus
to sin, and afterwards relentlessly
attacked Him through the hostile leaders
of Israel. He wanted to kill Jesus and
obliterate the gospel of the kingdom of
God. But the devil’s plans backfired on
himself because through His death Jesus
"destroyed him who had the power of
death, that is, the devil" (Hebrew
2:14). God’s divine plan proceeded.
Period of this dispensation
From the exodus from Egypt to Christ
1,718 years approximately
Characterstic of
this dispensation
The Israelites leave Egypt and enter the
land of Canaan - 41 years
Over a year at Sinai (Numbers 10:11-12)
Forty years of wandering in wilderness
(Numbers 14:33-34)
From the entrance into Canaan to the
reign of Saul, over 520 years:
(A) Joshua in Canaan (Joshua 14:7;
Joshua 24:29)
(B) Elders who outlived Joshua (Judges
2:7, Judges 3:7)
(C) First servitude (Judges 3:7-8)
(D) Othniel, first judge (Judges 3:9-11)
(E) Second servitude (Judges 3:12-14)
(F) Ehud, second judge (Judges 3:15-20)
(G) Third servitude (Judges 3:31)
(H) Shamgar, third judge (Judges 3:31)
(I) Fourth servitude (Judges 4:1-3)
(J) Deborah and Barak, fourth and fifth
judges (Judges 4:4-5:31)
(K) Fifth servitude (Judges 6:1-10)
(L) Gideon, sixth judge (Judges
6:11-8:32)
(M) Abimelech, seventh judge (Judges
8:33; Judges 9:57)
(N) Tola, eighth judge (Judges 10:1-2)
(O) Jair, ninth judge (Judges 10:3-5)
(P) Sixth servitude (Judges 10:6-18)
(Q) Jephthah, tenth judge (Judges
11:1-12:7)
(R) Ibzan, eleventh judge (Judges
12:8-10)
(S) Elon, twelfth judge (Judges
12:11-12)
(T) Abdon, thirteenth judge (Judges
12:13-15)
(U) Seventh servitude (Judges 13:1)
(V) Samson, fourteenth judge (Judges
13:2-16:31)
(W) Civil war (Judges 17:1-21:25)
(X) Eli, fifteenth judge (1 Samuel
4:1,15-18)
(Y) Samuel, sixteenth judge (1 Samuel
4:15-18;1 Samuel 7:2-15; 1 Samuel 8:1-5)
TOTAL
From Saul to the
Babylonian captivity, over 513 years:
Reign of:
(A) Saul (Acts 13:21)
(B) David (2 Samuel 5:4)
(C) Solomon (1 Kings 11:42)
(D) Rehoboam, after the kingdom was
divided (1 Kings 14:21)
Rulers of Judah:
(E) Abijam (1 Kings 15:2)
(F) Asa (1 Kings 15:10)
(G) Jehoshaphat (1 Kings 22:41-42)
(H) Jehoram (2 Kings 8:16-17)
(I) Ahaziah (2 Kings 8:25-26)
(J) Athaliah (2 Kings 11:3)
(K) Joash (2 Kings 12:1)
(L) Amaziah (2 Kings 14:1-2)
(M) Azariah or Uzziah (2 Kings 15:1-2)
(N) Jotham (2 Kings 15:32-33)
(O) Ahaz (2 Kings 16:1-2)
(P) Hezekiah—six years before and
twenty-three years after the ten-tribe
captivity (2 Kings 18:1-2)
(Q) Manasseh (2 Kings 21:1)
(R) Amon (2 Kings 21:19)
(S) Josiah (2 Kings 22:1)
(T) Jehoahaz, only three months (2 Kings
23:31-33)
(U) Jehoiakim (2 Kings 23:36)
(V) Jehoiachin, only three months (2
Kings 24:6-16)
(W) Zedekiah (2 Kings 24:18)
TOTAL:
From the beginning of the Babylonian
captivity through the restoration to
Nehemiah's day in the twentieth year of
Artaxerxes, 164 years:
(A) Babylonian captivity (Jeremiah
25:11-12; Jeremiah 29:10)
Reign of kings of Medo-Persia:
(B) Darius the Mede (Daniel 5:31; Daniel
8:3,20; Daniel 9:1-2)
(C) Cyrus the Persian (Ezra 1:1-4; Ezra
3:8; Isaiah 44:28-45:1)
(D) Cambyses, son of Cyrus (Ezra
5:1-6:22)
(E) Darius I of profane history (Ezra
5:1-6:22)
(F) Xerxes, the fourth king of Daniel
11:1-3
(G) Artaxerxes (Neh. 2)
TOTAL:
From the time of restoration from
Babylon to the preaching of the kingdom
by John the Baptist was 480 years which,
added to totals of other periods above,
make the 1,718 years or more in this
dispensation.
Characteristic of
this dispensation
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God manifested himself through signs
and wonders in Egypt and the
wilderness.
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God made personal appearances to
them (Exodus 24:9-11; Joshua
5:13-15)
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God spoke with an audible voice
(Deut. 5:22-24).
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There were visible manifestations of
His presence day and night (Exodus
14:19-21).
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God took sickness from Israel and
promised to heal them if they kept
his commandments and served
him(Exodus 15:26; Exodus 23:25)
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He gave them the riches of Egypt
(Exodus 12:35; Psalm 105:37)
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He gave them revelations and a
complete code of laws;
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He made covenants with them
The entire Old Testament was written in
this dispensation. The period ends with
the crucifixion of the Lord on the cross
The Dispensation of Grace
It is so called because of the fullness
of grace brought by Jesus Christ (John
1:16-17).
Period of this
dispensation
Length from the preaching of Christ
(Matthew 11:11; Luke 16:16) to the
second coming of Jesus Christ.
Characteristic of
this dispensation
Satan was defeated on the cross.
Believers given authority to drive out
demons, heal the sick and do miracles (
Mark 16: 17,18 )
Satan made powerless to overcome any
believer who would put on the whole
armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) and
resist him (Ephesians 4:27; James 4:7; 1
Peter 5:7-9).
Jews and Gentiles made Abraham’s seed
through Christ and heirs of the promises
and blessings of Abraham miracles, as
recorded in the Gospels and Acts.
Fullness of the Spirit promised (John
7:37-39),
Believers commissioned to represent God
and do the works of Christ (Mark
16:15-20; John 14:12).
Everyone is privileged to receive
according to his faith ( Matthew 17:20;
Matthew 21:21-22; Mark 11:22-24; John
14:12-15; John 15:7,16; Hebrews 11:6; 1
John 3:21-22; 1 John 5:13-14).
Believers become new creations ( 2
Corinthians 5:17)
Just shown the way to live By
faith ( Romans 1:17)
The purpose of God to save all who would
believe
Gifts given to men
Believers expected to bear fruits
Dispensation of Millennium Kingdom
It is so called because divine
government will take over all human
governments. The first 1,000 years of
theocracy or God's rule on earth is also
called the Millennium, meaning 1,000
years (Revelation 20:6,7)
Period of this
dispensation
From the second coming of Christ to the
second resurrection, the great white
throne judgment, the renovation of the
heaven and earth, and the beginning of
the new heavens and new earth—1,000
years (Revelation 20:1-15; Revelation
21:1; 2).
Characteristic of
this dispensation
For the first time since Adam submitted
to satan, man will be free. Christ and
resurrected saints will be reigning over
the coming generations from the
beginning of the Millennium and forever.
There will be some who will not choose
God and righteousness. At the end of the
Millennium multitudes will follow the
devil who will be loosed from the
bottomless pit and he will collect the
above people and fight against God
(Revelation 20:7-10).
Fire will come down from heaven and
devour the rebels who have lived through
the 1,000 years (or a part of it, if
they are born within the period) and who
choose Satan rather than God (Revelation
20:7-10).
Revelation 20:10 And the devil that
deceived them was cast into the lake of
fire and brimstone, where the beast and
the false prophet are, and shall be
tormented day and night for ever and
ever.
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