#A70: IS 'DISPENSATION' TAUGHT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT?

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by Luis B. Vega
vegapost@hotmail.com
www.PostScripts.org 

I became its Servant by the Commission GOD gave me to fully proclaim to you the Word of GOD, the Mystery that was hidden for Ages [Dispensations] and Generations but is now revealed to His Saints. To them GOD has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the Glorious Riches of this Mystery, which is Christ in you, the Hope of Glory. -Colossians 1:25-27

Does the Bible teach Dispensationalism? Yes. It is not a Salvific Issue. It is just a matter where one’s Understanding is pertaining to its Biblical Supposition. Personally, one’s Understanding of Dispensationalism was heavily influenced by the Teaching and Charts of Clarence Larkin. As one has Dyslexia, one’s main Mode of Learning was through Visual Teachings and Illustrations. So, Charts were perfect for one’s Primary Mode of learning and it made sense.
 

But one was never really challenged concerning the Teaching of Dispensationalism until one came across those Fellow Brethren that did not subscribe to it. It goes for the same issues as, ‘One must be Water Baptized to be saved, or ‘Speak in Tongues’, etc. It is really not a ‘Big Deal’ in the whole Scope of Prophecy, in one’s Estimation. It is that one can argue anything from the Bible to ‘prove’ one’s Point or Frame of Mind. As the late Chuck Missler stated, ‘If you beat any Numbers long enough, it can tell you anything’.
 

So, if Brethren do not believe in Dispensationalism? No Problem. But if one can contribute anything about the Topic of Dispensationalism, that if it is not True as many Brethren assert, then the Apostle Paul was in Error and taught ‘Error’ about it. How so? He was, perhaps, the most instrumental in interjecting the Notion that there are ‘Ages’ or Dispensations in his Teachings to the Church. Jesus Himself alluded to Ages, and their End when He commissioned the Disciples, for example. It is that He would be with them, i.e., the Church Age, until the ‘End of Age’. Thus, the Term, ‘Age’ is just another Synonym for Dispensation in the Biblical Context.
 

What ‘Seals the Deal’ clearly, in one’s Mind is how the Apostle Paul discloses that GOD worked and works in Dispensations of Ages. One can assume that the different Covenants YHVH had with Mankind were Dispensations. Erroneously, many Students of the Bible presume that the Teaching of Dispensationalism has been a recent Phenomenon, much like the Rapture. Not so. Not to belabor the Point, but if the Tribulation Period to come is not the conclusion of a prior Age or Dispensation, in that case, that of Israel will revert to being ‘Under the Law’, then what is that called? 

Definition 

Here is a brief study of the Difference in Dispensations and how that looked like. One will see why one is more convinced that YHVH does deal with ‘Ages’ or Time-Frames. Take for example the Giving of the Law to Moses, and how the Jews rely on it for their exclusive Identity, Purpose, Meaning and Future. However, the Law produces Death. Note that the Law does not fully reveal. Take Moses for example, of whom the Jews take their Religious Dogma from.

Moses was Veiled and the Israelites could not fully see his Face, it was ‘obscured’. This is what the Law can only provide. It is limited in scope and why the New Covenant was Promised. And this is only found in Jesus. In Jesus, whom the Mosaic Law pointed to is fulfilled. Moses, or the Law could not bring Israel into the Promised Land. Consider the following, the Definition and then how it is applied on 8 occasions in the New Testament.
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DISPENSATION

Noun

dis·​pen·​sa·​tion ˌdi-spən-ˈsā-shən 

1

a: A General State or ordering of Things specifically. A System of revealed and promises regulating Human Affairs. As in a Privilege maintained under the new dispensation. 

b: A particular Arrangement or Provision especially of Providence or Nature. As in involving special Dispensation by the Church.

2

a: An Exemption from a Law or from an impediment, vow, or Oath. As in may be granted a Dispensation from the rule.

b: A Formal Authorization as in equested a Dispensation to form another Lodge.

3

a: the Act of Dispensing as in the Dispensation of Medication

b: Something dispensed or distributed.

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1 CORINTHIANS 9:17
For if I do this Thing willingly, I have a Reward: but if against my Will, a DISPENSATION of the Gospel is committed unto me.
 

2 CORINTHIANS 3:7
Now if the Ministry of Death, engraved in Letters on Stones [the Covenant of the Law which led to Death because of Sin], came with such Glory and Splendor that the Israelites were not able to look steadily at the Face of Moses because of its Glory, [a brilliance] that was fading,
 

2 CORINTHIANS 3:8
how will the Ministry of the Spirit [the New Covenant which allows us to be Spirit-Filled] fail to be even more Glorious and Splendid?
 

EPHESIANS 1:10
That in the DISPENSATION of the Fullness of Times he might gather together in one all Things in Christ, both which are in Heaven, and which are on Earth; even in him:
 

EPHESIANS 3:2
If ye have heard of the DISPENSATIONof the Grace of GOD which is given me to you-ward:
 

EPHESIANS 3:9
And to make all Men see what is the DISPENSATION of the Mystery which for Ages hath been hid in GOD who created all Things;
 

COLOSSIANS 1:25
Whereof I am made a Minister, according to the DISPENSATION of GOD which is given to me for you, to fulfill the Word of GOD;
 

1 TIMOTHY 1:4
Nor to turn their Minds to Fables and Interminable Genealogies, which bring questionings rather than further GOD's DISPENSATION, which is in Faith.
 

Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/words/Dispensation
 

It took another Generation, or Age to then have Joshua, a Type of Jesus, who could only take the Israelites into the Promised Land, and he did. It is by Grace and in another ‘Dispensation’ or Age that one can only be taken into the Greater Promised Land by the Greater Joshua. So, this is precisely one’s Point, that the mere Fact that one is living within the Church Age Dispensation and not the Jewish one, is proof of the Dispensation.
 

And the concluding 7 Year Tribulation Period that remains of the Old one, the one under Moses is what will delineate and prove Dispensationalism is True, in one’s Mind after the Rapture takes place and conclude the Dispensation of Grace, i.e., the Church Age. Then consider that the 1000 Year Millennial Kingdom is the Age to Come. That too is another Proof that there are Dispensations. Even after that, once the New Earth and the New Heavens are forged, that too will perhaps be a New Dispensation to be had.  
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DISPENSATIONAL TRUTH

Larkin, Clarence, 1850-1924

https://cdm.llu.edu/digital/collection/p17224coll6/id/51/rec/1
 

Books

END OF CHURCH AGE

A study of the Astronomical and Mathematical Patterns heralding the End of the Church Age and the coming Transference of Testimony and the witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Order a Hard Copy at Lulu Publications.

https://www.lulu.com/shop/luis-vega/end-of-the-church-age/paperback/product-e78p852.html

PROPHECY

The purpose of this Book is to illustrate the various Divine Patterns in the Bible whose Theme and Purpose is to Testify of Jesus. This study attempts to ascertain possible Correlations.

Order a Hard Copy at Lulu Publications.

https://www.lulu.com/shop/luis-vega/biblical-patterns-of-prophecy/paperback/product-95zz74m.html

4 HORSEMEN

The purpose of this Book is to chronicle various precursory events  leading-up to the breaking of the Seal Judgments in the book of Revelation. Such Events are leading-up to the collapse. 

Order a Hard Copy at Lulu Publications.

https://www.lulu.com/shop/luis-vega/4-horsemen-of-revelation/paperback/product-7k9g2kk.html?q=

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