1. Define a dispensation. A dispensation describes how God deals with the people of the world for a particular time. We are now in the Grace dispensation (church Age). The church was born between Matthew 16:18 (I will build my church) and Acts 2:41 (were added to the church). Dr. Falwell believes that the church began at Pentecost and will end at the Rapture. A dispensation is a temporary period of time. It always involves a test, a covenant, ends in failure, and has always ended in a form of judgment.
2. Define a covenant. A covenant is an agreement between God and man during each dispensation revealing what God will do individually and collectively with the people of that dispensation. His covenants can be conditional or unconditional.
3. List the seven dispensations/covenants. There are seven dispensations/covenants: (1) Dispensation of Innocence/Edenic Covenant, (2) Dispensation of Conscience/Adamic Covenant, (3) Dispensation of Human Governments/Noahic Covenant, (4) Dispensation of Promise/Abrahamic Covenant, (5) Dispensation of the Law/Mosaic Covenant, (6) Dispensation of Grace/The New Covenant, and (7) Dispensation of the Kingdom/Davidic Covenant.
4. What were the conditions of each dispensation? In the Dispensation of Innocence, Adam and Eve were supposed to replenish the earth, subdue the earth, have dominion over animal life, eat fruits and vegetables, and work for their sustenance. They were supposed to stay away from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. In the Dispensation of Conscience, they had physical work, nature was cursed, woman would bear children in sorrow, there would be physical death, a redeemer was promised, and the serpent was cursed. They were given the animal sacrifices and were to live morally good lives based on their conscience. In the Dispensation of Human Governments, man was to subdue the earth, never again experience a flood, and establish human governments. In the Dispensation of Promise, Abraham was to become a great nation which would be blessed with financial and spiritual prosperity, nations would be blessed and cursed because of him, and his family would receive the promised land. His family was supposed to receive their promised land but instead went down into Egypt. In the Dispensation of the Law, the law was given to reflect God's holiness, to instruct in God's discipline, and to remind them of God's salvation. In the Dispensation of the New Covenant, the church is supposed to seek and serve the Lord. The covenant is unconditional. In the Dispensation of the Kingdom, Christ will control His kingdom, men will be rewarded and given rest, those who have suffered will be glorified, all Israel will be saved, the times of the Gentile will cease, and the curse on creation will be lifted.
5. What was the judgement of each dispensation? Each dispensation ended with a judgment, and after this judgment, a new dispensation began. The seven judgments were/are: (1) Adam and Eve were cast from the Garden of Eden, (2) the flood, (3) the Tower of Babel, (4) four hundred years of captivity in Egypt, (5) Israel and Judah were judged, also the cross judgment, (6) the Tribulation, and (7) the battle at the end of the Millennium.
6. What nation is featured in dispensationalism? The nation of Israel is the key nation in most of the dispensations. The only exception might be the Dispensation of Grace, although Israel is not totally out of the picture even then.
7. What was God attempting to demonstrate by allowing mankind to live through seven different dispensations? God has used each dispensation as a temporary time of testing. If man obeys, then he is blessed. If he disobeys, judgment results, and a new dispensation begins. God created man to love Him, and part of the dispensational mentality is that we are repeatedly given opportunities to seek the Lord. In each dispensation, man has failed.
Tom of Spotswood"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (I John 5:12)
"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)
Index to Selected Essays And Book Reviews
Lesson 14 - Introduction to Prophesy
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