Stewardship and Dispensations:

The Significance of Οικονομός and Οικονομία

The sixty-six books of the Bible span thousands of years of human history and beyond. They begin before God created man and end with the creation of new heavens and a new earth where righteousness settles down and feels at ease^[1]. Within the pages of the Bible, we see changes in God’s relationship and standard for mankind and the failure of mankind to live up to God’s expectation, which ultimately brings judgment. In the Garden of Eden, Adam was not allowed to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil^[2]. Upon eating the fruit from this tree, his spirit was separated from God^[3], he became subject to physical death, and he was expelled from the garden^[4]. Having been expelled from the garden, God’s expectation for humans was for them to properly govern the manner of their lives by the knowledge of good and evil, now that they possessed it. However, again, men failed, and God judged the earth by bringing a flood^[5]. After the flood, God instructed Noah that men are to govern themselves and that capital punishment is to be implemented^[6]. Again, men fail to follow God’s instruction, reject God, and seek their own way. Therefore, God brought judgment and forced man to separate and spread across the earth^[7]. This judgment brought about multiple languages and the division of the continents, which caused man to spread out across the earth^[8].  Having scattered man across the face of the earth, God then approaches Abram and ultimately offers him four covenants^[9]. These covenants included a promise of land that Abraham and his descendants […]

Future Events

The Rapture

The Rapture is the next event in the prophetic calendar.¹ This is the snatching away of the church.² At the end of the Dispensation of Grace, the Church will be snatched away by Christ and presented before the Father.³ At this time all believers who are a part of the Body of Christ will be resurrected and receive their full redemption (Spirit, soul and body). The believers that have not physically died at this time will pass over death and receive their resurrected body and the redemption of their soul with the believers that are resurrected from the dead.⁴ This event may happen at any moment. The Scriptures do not elaborate on the exact time when this will happen, except for stating that it will be prior to the tribulation.⁵

The Tribulation Period

This is a seven year period of time that follows the snatching away of the Church. During this time, the Dispensation of Law is judged and the wrath of God is poured out upon the earth. This will fulfill the prophecy of the seventieth week in Daniel 9. The beginning of this time is marked by the signing of a seven year covenant of peace with Israel.⁶

The Second Coming of Christ

Christ will physically return in judgment to the earth at the end of the Tribulation Period and set up His kingdom on earth for one thousand years.⁷

Satan and the Fallen Angels

Satan will be bound for a thousand years at the beginning of the […]

Spirit Beings (The Other Created Intelligent Beings in the Universe)

The Different Types of Spirit Beings

Cherubim

The highest order of the spirit beings. There are ones with four faces, two faces, and one face. Ezekiel 10:1 -22.

Seraphim

These spirit beings are seen around the throne of God and described as having six wings. Isaiah 6:2, 6; Revelation 4:8

Angels

This rank of spirit beings are the messengers. They are involved in the day to day activities of both heaven and earth. 1 Kings 19-23: Daniel 10:13; Hebrews 1:14

Satan

Satan is a Cherub whose name was Lucifer¹ Satan is at this time the god of this age.² He is the originator and keeper of the world system.³ He is an adversary of Christians.⁴ He still has access to the third heaven were he goes before God and accuses the brethren.⁵

Creation of Spirit Beings

All Spirit beings were created in one act and were created fully mature.⁶

Present Duties of the Unfallen Angels

The angels that did not fall presently minister to the heirs of salvation.⁷ They are the messengers of God.⁸ They carry out the judgments of God.⁹ They protect God’s People.¹⁰

The Fallen Angels

One third of the angels fell with Satan.¹¹ They are presently known as demons.¹² They have […]

The Origin and Nature of Humans

The Origin of Humans

Adam was both formed from the dust of the earth and created out of nothing by God¹. Adam’s body was created out of the dust of the earth and his soul and spirit were created out of nothing². Adam was created; all other humans were procreated from Adam and Eve³. When Adam was created, he was created in the likeness and the image of God⁴. Adam was created complete and in the likeness of God immediately without process.

The Body, the Soul, and the Spirit

Humans are tri-partite⁵. They have a body, which is the physical flesh. They have a soul, which is the center of his emotions⁶. They also have  a spirit, which is the part of them that is able to rationalize⁷. The place where these three parts come together is referred to as the heart, which is where the determinate will of a human is formed⁸.

The Present Condition of Unsaved Humans

All humans possess a sin nature and are totally depraved⁹. All unsaved are spiritually separated from God, because of Adam’s trespass and sin. They all physically die because of Adam’s sin¹⁰. They are not able to receive the things from the Spirit of God because their minds have been darkened¹¹. The Gospel for salvation is foolishness to them and their minds have been darkened to this Gospel¹².

The Present Condition of Saved Humans

Saved humans still possess a fallen nature. However, they also possess a new nature, which is a quality of the Divine Nature

Salvation

Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ’s death for sins, burial, and resurrection three days later according to the Scriptures¹.

God the Father’s Involvement in Salvation

God the Father is the one that forgives the trespasses and sins of the believers on the basis of Christ’s cross work².

He imputes Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection to the believers, thus He imputes the believers to be righteous³, counting the believers to have died with Christ and to have been raised with Christ ⁴.

God the Father seals the believers in Christ by the Holy Spirit⁵.

The Son’s Involvement in Salvation

God the Son, in his humanity, was separated both spiritually from God for three hours on the cross and physically from His human body. His death, burial and resurrection are imputed to believers; therefore, making the believer righteous before God the Father⁶ and giving them access to Him⁷.

His physical death

His physical death provided reconciliation for mankind and spirit beings to God the Father⁸ and provides redemption for all men⁹.

His spiritual death

His spiritual death dealt with the sin nature of man¹⁰. The sin nature was a result of Adam’s trespass and was passed on to all men.

His work on the Cross

His […]