Dispensation Review

Innocence - Law

Every dispensation begins with a promise, ends with a judgment, and has a major event leading to the change to the next dispensation.

Dispensation of Innocence

Began with a promise of paradise forever

Ended with a judgment that affected all those involved.

For salvation man had only to OBEY the word of the LORD!

The event that led to the ending of the dispensation was Adam’s sin.

The dispensation probably lasted less than a year (Adam and Eve had no children at the time of their sin).

The dispensation did not provide for the regeneration of man’s now dead spirit.

Dispensation of Conscience

Began with a promise that man could still find favor with God.

Ended with a judgment on all mankind by death (except 8 people).

For salvation, man had to OBEY the Word of the Lord by giving worthy offerings with blood, have faith that God would accept their offerings, and listen to their conscience.

The event that led to the ending of the dispensation was the Flood.

The dispensation probably lasted 1,656 years (From Adam and Eve being banished from the Garden of Eden until the Flood).

The dispensation did not provide for regeneration of man’s spirit.

Dispensation of Human Government

Began with a promise and a covenant that God would never again destroy the world with water.

Ended with judgment on all mankind through the confounding of tongues.

For salvation, man had to OBEY the Word of the Lord by giving worthy offerings with blood, have faith that God would accept their offerings, and listen to their conscience. As well as go forth and replenish the whole earth and submit themselves to human government.

The event that led to the ending of the dispensation was the building of the Tower of Babel.

The dispensation probably lasted 367 years (From Noah stepping off of the Ark until God speaks to Abraham).

The dispensation did not provide for regeneration of man’s dead, dormant spirit.

Dispensation of Promise

Began with a promise to Abram that he and his descendants would be blessed and fruitful.

Ended with judgment on the Egyptians for their harsh treatment of God’s people.

For salvation, man had to Obey God’s word, give blood offerings, have faith, listen to their conscience, be fruitful, and submit to human government, as well as, believe that God’s promises were for him, separate from idolatry and heathen lifestyles, pay tithes, and all males had to be circumcised.

The event that led to the ending of the dispensation was Israel freedom from Egypt.

The dispensation probably lasted 645 years (From when God spoke to Abram until the Passover in Egypt).

The dispensation did not provide for regeneration of man’s dead, dormant spirit.

Dispensation of Law

Began with a promise that God would give His chosen people a Promised Land.

Ended with judgment for all the sins of the world when Jesus died upon the cross.

For salvation, man had to Obey God’s word, give blood offerings, have faith, listen to their conscience, be fruitful, and submit to human government, as well as, believe that God’s promises were for him, separate from idolatry and heathen lifestyles, pay tithes, and all males had to be circumcised. Also, all other 613 commandments of the law of Moses had to be followed which included celebrating the Passover yearly, Various types of sacrifice and worship, and participating in the annual day of Atonement.

The event that led to the ending of the dispensation was the life and death of Jesus Christ.

The dispensation probably lasted 1,520 years (From the Giving of the Law to Moses upon Mount Sinai, until the death of Jesus Christ upon the Cross).

The dispensation did not provide for regeneration of man’s dead, dormant spirit.

We will now study the final two dispensations. The Dispensation of Grace is of particular importance to us because it is the dispensation in which we now live! The last dispensation of time will be the Dispensation of Millennial Reign. Our study of the past dispensations are important to understanding our present dispensation because the requirements of each dispensation are added to the following one.