DISPENSATIONS:
A BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
I)
AN INTRODUCTION TO DISPENSATIONAL THEOLOGY
A)
A SIMPLE DEFINITION OF DISPENSATIONAL THEOLOGY
B)
HISTORICAL EVIDENCE OF DISPENSATIONALISM
C)
THE MEANING OF THE WORD DISPENSATION
D)
THE USAGE OF THE WORD FOR DISPENSATION IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
E)
DEFINITION OF THE TERM DISPENSATION AS IT RELATES TO
DISPENSATIONAL THEOLOGY
F)
ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF EACH DISPENSATION
4)
[Eph 3:2-10]:
G)
SECONDARY CHARACTERISTICS OF EACH DISPENSATION
H)
SOME IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
I)
CONCLUDING REMARKS
II)
AN EXAMINATION OF DISPENSATIONAL THEOLOGY
A)
THE DISPENSATION OF INNOCENCY
1)
INTRODUCTION
2)
RULING FACTOR: AN UNCONFIRMED FAVORABLE DISPOSITION TOWARD GOD
[Gen
1:28-29]:
[Gen
2:15-17]:
[Gen
2:24]:
3)
SECONDARY GOVERNING RULES OVER MANKIND
4)
CONCLUSION: FAILURE OF THE FIRST DISPENSATION
[Gen
2:16-17]:
[Rom
5:10]:
[Gen
3:8]:
B)
THE DISPENSATION OF CONSCIENCE
1)
INTRODUCTION
2)
FIRST NEW RULING FACTOR: THE HUMAN CONSCIENCE
3)
THE SECOND NEW RULING FACTOR: THE RULE OF GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE
CONSCIENCE OF MEN
4)
SECONDARY GOVERNING RULES OVER MANKIND
5)
CONCLUSION
C)
THE DISPENSATION OF HUMAN GOVERNMENT
1)
INTRODUCTION: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT ORDAINED BY GOD
2)
NEW RULING FACTOR: HUMAN GOVERNMENT
3)
SECOND & THIRD RULING FACTORS CONTINUED: HUMAN CONSCIENCE &
RESTRAINT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
4)
THE SPECIAL REVELATION WHICH GOD GAVE TO MAN FOR THE THIRD DISPENSATION
IS RECORDED IN GEN 9:1-17:
5)
SECONDARY GOVERNING RULES OVER MANKIND:
6)
CONCLUSION
D)
THE DISPENSATION OF PROMISE
1)
INTRODUCTION
2)
NEW RULING FACTOR: GOD'S PROMISES TO ABRAHAM
a)
GOD'S PERSONAL PROMISES TO ABRAHAM
b)
GOD'S NATIONAL PROMISES CONCERNING ISRAEL
c)
GOD'S UNIVERSAL PROMISES
3)
SECONDARY GOVERNING RULES OVER MANKIND
4)
CONCLUSION: FAILURE AGAIN
E)
THE DISPENSATION OF THE MOSAIC LAW
1)
INTRODUCTION
[1
Peter 2:9]:
2)
NEW RULING FACTOR: THE MOSAIC LAW
3)
FOUR OTHER RULING FACTORS ARE CONTINUED:
4)
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE MOSAIC LAW
5)
SECONDARY RULES GOVERNING HUMAN BEHAVIOR
6)
CONCLUSION: FAILURE
F)
THE DISPENSATION OF GRACE
1)
INTRODUCTION
2)
NEW RULING FACTOR: GRACE
3)
SECONDARY RULES GOVERNING HUMAN BEHAVIOR
4)
CONCLUSION
G)
THE FINAL SEVEN YEARS OF THE MOSAIC LAW DISPENSATION
1)
THE FINAL SEVEN YEARS OF THE MOSAIC LAW DISPENSATION = THE SEVEN YEAR
TRIBULATION PERIOD = DANIEL'S 70TH WEEK OF YEARS
a)
DANIEL'S 70 WEEKS PROPHECY INDICATES GOD'S 490 YEAR PLAN EXCLUSIVELY FOR
ISRAEL AND JERUSALEM WITHIN WHICH THE MESSIAH WOULD PRESENT HIMSELF TO
ISRAEL, BE REJECTED & THEN EXECUTED IN THE 483RD YEAR INTERRUPTING
THIS PERIOD AT THAT TIME - THE CHURCH BEING IN VIEW AT NO TIME DURING
THIS PERIOD; INSTEAD COMMENCING SHORTLY THEREAFTER AT PENTECOST
i)
THE PROPHECY INVOLVED 490 YEARS
ii)
GOD DID NOT DETERMINE THE 70 WEEKS/490 YEAR PROPHECY FOR THE CHURCH, BUT
FOR ISRAEL & JERUSALEM
iii)
THE TIME FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE 70 WEEKS PROPHECY UNTIL THE MESSIAH
IS PRESENTED TO ISRAEL AND THEN EXECUTED WOULD BE 69 WEEKS OR 483 YEARS
iv)
THE CHURCH DID NOT EXIST DURING ANY PART OF THE FIRST 69 WEEKS OR 483
YEARS OF THE 70 WEEKS
v)
GOD TEMPORARILY INTERRUPTED HIS 70 WEEKS PROGRAM FOR ISRAEL AT THE END
OF THE FIRST 69 WEEKS OR 483 YEARS WITH A GAP OF TIME THAT IS NOW
APPROACHING 2,000 YEARS IN DURATION
vi)
GOD STARTED THE CHURCH VERY SHORTLY AFTER HE INTERRUPTED HIS 70 WEEKS
PROGRAM FOR ISRAEL AND JERUSALEM WITH A GAP OF TIME AT THE END OF THE
FIRST 69 WEEKS
vii)
A SUMMARY OF THE FACTS RE: THE 70 WEEKS PROPHECY OF DANIEL 9
viii)
STRONG INFERENCES RE: DANIEL'S 70-WEEKS PROPHECY AND THE PRESENCE OF THE
CHURCH ON EARTH
viii_a)GOD
DOES NOT INTEND THE CHURCH TO BE PRESENT ON THE EARTH FOR ANY PART OF
THE 70 WEEKS OR 490 YEARS HE HAS DETERMINED SPECIFICALLY FOR ISRAEL AND
JERUSALEM
viii_b)
GOD INTENDS THE CHURCH TO BE PRESENT ON THE EARTH SPECIFICALLY
DURING THE INTERRUPTING GAP OF TIME BETWEEN THE END OF THE FIRST 69
WEEKS OR 483 YEARS AND THE BEGINNING OF THE 70TH WEEK OR LAST SEVEN
YEARS
viii_c)
GOD WILL REMOVE THE CHURCH FROM THE EARTH BEFORE THE 70TH WEEK BEGINS
WITH THE RESUMPTION OF HIS 70-WEEKS PROGRAM FOR ISRAEL AND JERUSALEM
viii_d)
THE CHURCH IS ABSENT ON EARTH IN PASSAGES REFERRING TO THE 7 YEAR
TRIBULATION PERIOD, (DANIEL'S 70TH WEEK)
REFERENCES
TO THE CHURCH IN REVELATION - ONLY OCCUR BEFORE THE SEVEN YEAR
TRIBULATION PERIOD
REFERENCES
TO ISRAEL IN THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION DECLARE THE PREDOMINANCE OF
ISRAEL DURING DANIEL'S 70TH WEEK AND MAGNIFY THE ABSENCE OF THE CHURCH
DURING THAT 7 YEAR TRIBULATION PERIOD
SAINTS
WILL BE PRESENT ON EARTH DURING DANIEL'S 70TH WEEK BUT THEY WILL NOT BE
CHURCH SAINTS
NOT
ALL SAINTS ARE CHURCH SAINTS
THE
SAINTS ON EARTH DURING DANIEL'S 70TH WEEK ARE NOT CHURCH SAINTS
THE
GREAT MULTITUDE OF REVELATION CHAPTER 7 ARE NOT CHURCH SAINTS
INTRODUCTION
[Rev
7:9-17]:
BEING
CLOTHED IN WHITE ROBES AND HOLDING PALMS DOES NOT DEMAND A PHYSICAL
RESURRECTION BODY AND THUS POINT TO THE RAPTURED CHURCH SAINTS
TWO
NECESSARY QUESTIONS
THE
ANSWER TO THE FIRST QUESTION
THE
ANSWER TO THE SECOND QUESTION
H)
THE DISPENSATION OF THE MILLENNIUM
1)
INTRODUCTION
2)
THREE RULING FACTORS - ONE NEW: HUMAN CONSCIENCE, HUMAN GOVERNMENT AND
THE NEW THEOCRATIC RULE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
3)
SECONDARY RULES GOVERNING HUMAN BEHAVIOR
4)
CONCLUSION
III)
CONCLUSION: DISPENSATIONAL THEOLOGY IS INDEED SCRIPTURAL AND IT NEVER
FAILS TO GLORIFY GOD
A)
KEY ELEMENTS OF DISPENSATIONAL THEOLOGY'S EXPOSITION OF THE BIBLICAL
PHILOSOPHY OF HISTORY
1)
KEY ELEMENT #1: DISPENSATIONAL THEOLOGY'S ULTIMATE PURPOSE IS TO GLORIFY
GOD TOWARD WHICH EACH DIEPENSATION MOVES AND WHICH IS FULLY CONFIRMED IN
SCRIPTURE
a)
INTRODUCTION
b)
DISPENSATIONAL THEOLOGY DEMONSTRATES THAT GOD IS THE SOVEREIGN RULER
THROUGHOUT HISTORY
c)
DISPENSATIONAL THEOLOGY DEMONSTRATES THAT MAN NEEDS TO SUBMIT TO GOD'S
RULE IN ORDER TO HAVE THINGS RIGHT ON EARTH AND THIS REFLECTS WHAT
SCRIPTURE TEACHES
d)
DISPENSATIONS PROGRESSIVELY MOVE HISTORY TOWARD THE FULFILLMENT OF ITS
GOD-INTENDED CLIMAX AS TAUGHT IN SCRIPTURE
2)
KEY ELEMENT #2: DISPENSATIONAL THEOLOGY'S RECOGNITION OF DISTINCTIONS OR
THINGS WHICH DIFFER IN HISTORY
3)
KEY ELEMENT #3: DISPENSATIONAL THEOLOGY HAS A PROPER CONCEPT OF THE
PROGRESS OF REVELATION
4)
KEY ELEMENT #4: THE SOVEREIGN RULE OF GOD IS THE PRINCIPLE TOWARD WHICH
THE DISPENSATIONAL DISTINCTIONS AND PROGRESSIVE STAGES OF REVELATION ARE
UNITED IN POINTING
B)
INDISPENSABLE FACTORS OF DISPENSATIONAL THEOLOGY
1)
INTRODUCTION
a)
THE FIRST FACTOR IS THE RECOGNITION OF THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE
NATION OF ISRAEL AND THE CHURCH
REF:
CHURCH VS ISRAEL
b)
THE SECOND INDISPENSABLE FACTOR IS THE CONSISTENT USE OF A SINGLE
HERMENEUTIC (A SINGLE METHOD OF INTERPRETING THE BIBLE) - NAMELY, THE
HISTORICAL-GRAMMATICAL METHOD
REF:
PROPER APPROACH TO SCRIPTURE
c)
THE THIRD INDISPENSABLE FACTOR IS THE RECOGNITION THAT THE ULTIMATE
PURPOSE OF HISTORY IS THE GLORY OF GOD THROUGH THE DEMONSTRATION THAT HE
ALONE IS THE SOVEREIGN GOD.
FOOTNOTES:
SECTION II
