Dispensations (Part II)

Lesson Content

V The Dispensation of Transition: This is the period from John the Baptist till the Church was established. It was in this period that Jesus was born, lived, died, was buried and rose again. In this period, the Old Testament law was taught on the one hand and on the other, the law of the New Testament. The paschal lamb was slain and Christ, our Passover, was also slain. On the one hand circumcision was there and on the other, people were repenting. Priests washed their hands in the laver and at the same time water baptism was also given. Sacrifices were offered and the Lord Jesus Christ also became a sacrifice. The Sabbath was observed and they received a measure of spiritual rest too. VI The Dispensation of Grace: This is the period from the day the Holy Spirit was poured forth and the Church was established until the Secret Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. We now live in this period. In Acts 2:1-4, we see how the Holy Spirit first descended. It was on that day that the Church, the Body of Christ was formed (I Cor.12:13). Some of the laws of this dispensation are: all must repent (Acts 17:30; I Tim.2:4), all nations should be made disciples and baptized (Matt.28:19), the Holy Spirit should be poured forth on al l flesh (Joel.2:28,29; Acts 2:17), the Gentiles should be of the same body by the gospel through the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Eph.3:6; I Cor.12:13), the Spirit - baptized people must continue steadfast in the apostolic doctrine and fellowship (Acts 2:42), the Church must attain the perfection of Christ (Col.1:28). God has ordained in the Church, eight ministries (I Cor.12:28), five offices (Eph.4:11) and deep doctrines through them and nine gifts of the Spirit for the edification of the Church (I Cor.12:7-10) that the Church might grow to be a perfect man to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. The Church that has overcome through these, will be caught up to the throne (Rev.12:1-5). VII The Dispensation of Tribulation (Rev.6; 7:9-17; 12:6-17;13;14:6-16): The Dispensation of Grace comes to an end with the ‘manchild’ or the perfected saints being caught up at the Secret Coming of Jesus. The devil and his angels will be cast down to the earth (Rev.12:5-9). The devil will then give his seat and power and authority to a human being (the Antichrist) (Rev.13:1,2) and raise persecution against the ‘woman’, that is, those who are left behind in the Church, through the Antichrist (Rev.12:13). This is the beginning of the Dispensation of Tribulation which will continue for three and a half years (Rev.12:6,14). Those who refuse the mark of the beast (the Antichrist) cannot buy or sell and those who refuse to worship the image of the

beast will be killed (Rev.13:15) and at this time many among tho se who are left behind in the Church will die as martyrs, as salvation during this period will only be through martyrdom. The Antichrist will however enter into a false covenant with the Jews, and will assist them to rebuild their temple in Jerusalem (Dan.9:25). The Jews will think that he is the promised Messiah. At the end of the three and a half years, the Antichrist will enter the temple and sit there showing himself to be God (II Thess.2:4). He will desecrate the temple and cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease (Dan.9:27; Matt.24:15). The Jews will then break their treaty with him and oppose him. Jesus will then appear in the clouds of heaven and send His angels to gather the martyrs of this Tribulation Period. This marks the end of the Dispensation of Tribulation (Matt.24:29-31). VIII The Dispensation of Great Tribulation (Rev.7:1-8; 8; 9; 10; 11:1-14;16): At the beginning of this period the Jews will see the Son of man as He comes in the clouds to gather the Tribulation martyrs and all the tribes will mourn, for they will recognize Him as One Whom they pierced (Matt.24:30). He will pour upon them the spirit of grace and the spirit of supplication (Zech.12:10). In this period, the Antichrist will begin to persecute the Jews as they wil l break their covenant with him. Enoch and Elijah will come and minister to the Jews in this period and they will be killed by the Antichrist, be resurrected by God and ascend to heaven (Rev.11:3-12). God will seal 1,44,000 Jews in order to preserve them (Rev.7:3-8). The wrath of God will be poured out on this earth. There will be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be (Matt.24:21). At the end of the Great Tribulation, Jesus will make His Public Advent (Zech.14:4,5; Jude 14,15). The Battle of Armageddon (Rev.16:16; 19:17-21): This battle will be fought in a place called Armageddon. Christ and His saints will prevail over the armies of the Antichrist and destroy them. The beast (Antichrist) and the false prophet will be cast into the Lake of Fire (Rev.19:20). Satan will be kept bound and cast into the bottomless pit for a thousand years (Rev.20:1,2). Jesus and the saints will reign on this earth for a thousand years (Rev.20:4).