Expert: Scott Talbot - 9/12/2008

Question
QUESTION: Do you believe there are different dispensations? If so what are they and what is the Biblical evidence for this?

ANSWER: Hi Matt,

Yes, I do believe that "dispensations" are evident in the Bible.

A dispensation is a period of time during which God gives a certain amount of revelation (typically authenticated through the use of miracles and special signs from God), He lays down a set of rules and guidelines, mankind fails in his efforts to follow these guidelines, judgment ensues, and the dispensation comes to an end. Then another dispensation is ushered in, in which new revelation is given, a different set of guidelines are given, and mankind fails again.

First, take Adam and Eve. God worked with them under a unique set of guidelines. Revelation was limited, and the only "rules" involved tending the garden, exercising dominion over the animal kingdom and the earth, and not eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. We know how that ended.

A new dispensation was ushered in. New revelation was given. New rules were laid out.

When you come to the period of the Mosaic Law, God provided a significant amount of new revelation, validated His message through signs and miracles, and gave the Law as the new set of rules. God reached out to mankind through the nation of Israel in a Theocracy--the rule of God through a specially-chosen human representative.

The Mosaic Law was set aside and a new dispensation (new "covenant," or new "testament") was ushered in--what some call the Age of Grace, or the Church Age. That's where we find ourselves now. New revelation was given through Jesus Christ, many miracles were performed, and a new "system" was developed that built on the old--a system of grace and not of law. This is the dispensation in which we find ourselves today.

In the future, the Church Age will transition into a new dispensation, when Christ returns to earth to establish His kingdom on earth. He will reign for 1000 years, with new revelation and new rules. Daniel, Revelation, Matthew, and certain OT prophetical books provide information about this.

The Millenial Age will give way to the Eternal State, after the final judgment of mankind and the creation of a new heaven and earth.

This, of course, is a cursory explanation of Dispensationalism. I can recommend some good books, if you would like to research further.

Dispensational theology is distinguished from Covenant Theology, which is the framework through which some (like Presbyterians and Reformed theologians) understand God's dealing with mankind. One of the fallacies of Covenant Theology is that it equates OT Israel with the NT Church. It fails to make a distinction, and so falls into certain theological fallacies by drawing an improper analogy between the two. It also fails to grasp the meaning and intent of future prophecy in which both entities (Israel and the Church) are treated differently.

I hope this helps. Feel free to write back if you would like to discuss further.

Scott

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for the clear and concise answer. I would like a recommendation of good books to read as you mentioned. I'm still a novice when it comes to Dispensationalism so I would like to get as good of an understanding of it as possible.

Answer
Matt,

Understanding dispensationalism helps one to better understand the Bible, particularly the distinctions between different time periods and God's differing ways of working with mankind.

At the following link are some books on dispensationalism:  

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find/881406289?Ntk=keywords&Nt

The book titled simply, Dispensationalism, by Charles Ryrie (first one, top left) would be a good book on the subject.

Scott