Consider This...
Theological Thoughts to Encourage the Heart & Stir the Mind ___________________________________________________
Volume I April 2011 Issue 17
The Sixth and Seventh Dispensation
The book of Micah the prophet has a familiar verse that many of us love and know. It says in chapter six, verse eight, "He has shown you, O Man, what is good; and what the LORD requires of you; but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (NKJV).
Praise God for the special revelation He has given to man; He has provided a way for men and women to be made right in His holy sight. God has never laid down a law or command that was impossible to understand (Romans 15:4) or grievous (1 John 5:3). The Living God is not the author of confusion, but of order (1 Corinthians 14:33). As we look at these last two dispensations, we see the order of Almighty God. Although some of the dispensations run over into the other, we see a structure that is easy to understand. We also have a Gospel that is not grievous, but joyous to believe in and live according to.
We also see, in these last two dispensations, the Lord Jesus Christ preparing His Church and preparing His people, Israel. He is preparing the Church for her mission to the world in evangelism and Israel for her reconciliation to their Holy One.
The Sixth Dispensation
The point of testing in this dispensation is the Gospel; this is the good news of God's Son, Jesus Christ, available to all men. It is the truth of how “Christ Jesus died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, NKJV). When one believes this truth and repents of their sins, they are born again and enter into what is known as the Church, the body of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This dispensation is known as the Church age or the age of Grace. Works do not save any man, yet God, in this dispensation, has called all men to repent and to turn to his Son for the forgiveness of their sins. The book of Acts records this very fact in chapter 17, verse 30 which says, "truly these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all
men everywhere to repent" (NKJV).
Also, in the book of Romans, God establishes His standard for this age of Grace. It states in Chapter 10, verse 9, "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (NKJV).
So we see with these two standards, repentance and calling upon Christ to save you, the structure of this dispensation has been laid out.
God has spoken to man by his Son (Hebrews 1:2) and men are called to obey Him (2 Timothy 2:19). God has promised to adopt those who repent and believe and He has promised to condemn those who reject and do not esteem His Son and gracious offer (John 3:18-20).
This current dispensation of Grace will come to a close at the end of the seven year tribulation. The tribulation period will come upon the earth after the rapture of the Church.
The Seventh Dispensation
Once Christ has returned at the end of the tribulation period, He will set up His Kingdom. This period is known as the Millennium. During this time, Christ will establish His rule as King of the Nations. There will be 1000 years of peace. During this time, Satan will be bound for one thousand years and the Church will rule with Christ on earth (Revelation 20:2).
Israel will be restored as a nation no longer given to idols, but reconciled to the God who called them out as His own special people. The fallen tent of David will be restored.
During this dispensation, glorified men will rule over men still born in the flesh. These people who are born during the Millennium will have the opportunity to receive or reject Christ. They will be under the standard to come and worship the Christ in Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:16- 17).
After the thousand years are over, Satan will be loosed to make one last stand against the Lord and His people. Men and women who are in rebellion against Christ will join Satan in this battle (Revelation 20:8- 9). Scripture declares, once this event begins to take place, fire will come down from God out of heaven and devour them. The Devil will be cast into the lake of fire. After these things, the Great White Throne Judgment will begin and anyone not found written in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10-15).
Once these things are accomplished, God will usher in a New Heaven and a New Earth. Eternity will begin with Our Holy God and His creation totally without sin.
—Ed Delgado
No comments:
Post a Comment