FacebookYouTubeGoogle StoreApple Store

Need a new search

If you didn't find what you were looking for, try a new search!

The Church Age

An age (αἰών) is a period in which God shows something about Himself to intelligent beings. Ages are not limited to time, which was created when God made the sun and moon for the purpose of distinguishing days, months, and seasons, Genesis 1:14. There are ten revealed ages; however, the actual number of ages that God has planed are not known, only that there will be ages of ages beyond those currently disclosed, Ephesians 2:7. The known ages are: The Age of the Creation of the Universe, Job 38:7, The Age of the Kingdom of Lucifer, Ezekiel 28:14, The Chaotic Age, Genesis 1:2, The Age of the Creation of Humans, Genesis 1:26, The Age of God’s Faithfulness, Genesis 4:1, The Age of God’s Kindness, Genesis 9:1, The Age of God’s Sovereignty, Exodus 12:41, The Legal Age, Exodus 20:1, The Malignantly Evil Age, Galatians 1:4, The Kingdom Age, Matthew 13:41.

A dispensation (οἰκονομία) is a period in time in which God shows something to humans about themselves. These occurrences are restricted to time and directly relate to humans, not spirit beings. The word “Dispensation” is derived from combining “house” with “law”. This “household law” governs the activities of the people within the house and is administered by a steward. In modern language, we use the term administration, especially when describing government. Since the concept of a dispensation is well defined in Scripture by use, we are able to factually discern there are seven dispensations: Innocence, Genesis 2:25, Conscience, Genesis 4:7, Government, Genesis 9:5, Promise, Genesis 12:2, Law, Exodus 19:8, Grace, Ephesians 3:2, Fullness of Times, Ephesians 1:10.

Since ages and dispensation run consecutively, the dispensation and age we are currently in are the dispensation of grace and […]

The Church Age2024-06-01T06:36:55-07:00

Church (ἐκκλησία)

Often translated as Church, ἐκκλησία (ekklesia) actually means a regularly summoned assembly. It is used of a legislative body, casual gathering, or an assembling of people. The English word “Church” is derived from the Greek word κυριακόν (kyriakon), meaning “pertaining to the Lord,” which was used to describe the place of meeting, the Lord’s house, referring to the building the assembly meets in. Due to its predominant use to describe the building or place of meeting, over the centuries, Church became the word of choice to describe more than just the physical building, incorporating within its meaning the local meeting of the members of the body of The Christ as well as the institution of Christianity. In Anglo-Saxon England, the word circa was used to refer to both the congregation and the building. This use influenced modern English translations to adopt Church over the Greek word assembly.

In Matthew, chapter sixteen, verse eighteen, Jesus speaks to Peter about an assembly He will build with its foundational rock being Christ Himself, Matthew 16:18. Context clarifies that Jesus is not speaking of the Jews but an assembly of people to come. After the resurrection of Christ, this assembly came into existence on the day of Pentecost when the promise of the Holy Spirit was poured out on the believers in the upper room who were waiting as Christ had instructed them before His last ascension. Assembly is used to describe this group of believers in the resurrection of Jesus, indicating their uniqueness from the general population of Jews, Acts 2:47.

Assembly is used to describe the gathering of Israel in the wilderness at Mount Sinai, Acts 7:38. However, this does not refer to those who are in […]

Church (ἐκκλησία)2024-10-10T06:12:25-07:00

An Age (αἰών)

An age (αἰών) is a period in which God shows something about Himself to intelligent beings. Ages are not restricted to time and are distinct from dispensations (οἰκονομία), which are administrations within time during which God shows something to humans about themselves. Ages may overlap with another age, begin at the same time as a dispensation, or run for a period longer than a single dispensation. Ages end when God has finished revealing the intended aspect of His nature to the intelligent created beings. Dispensations change due to judgment coming upon those in the household for failing to abide by the rules and run consecutively and are bound to time.

An age is not the same as eternal or forever. When referring to things that go beyond the ages, such as the eternal life we have in Christ, aiōnios (αἰώνιος) is used, 1 John 5:13. Where aiōn (αἰών) references a period in which God is showing something about Himself to intelligent beings, whether in or out of time. In the future, there will be ages (αἰών) of the ages (αἰών); however, each age (αἰών) is not eternal (αἰώνιος). This is also true in the Old Testament where ōw·lām (עֹולָם) conveys the concept of an age, Psalm 9:6; however ăd (עַד) with the preposition (לְ – to) expresses perpetuity, Psalm 61:8. The Lord will reign from an age (עֹולָם) and perpetually (עַד), Exodus 15:18.

Before the creation of humans, Scripture reveals that there were three ages. God created the spirit beings before He created the universe, Job 38:7. Therefore, the first age was the creation of the universe. During this age, the spirit beings learned of the omnipotent power of God, for they witnessed Him create the universe […]

An Age (αἰών)2023-12-14T08:08:48-08:00

2 Corinthians Compassions and Encouragement

The Father of Compassions, 2 Corinthians 1:3

God is the Father (the source) of Compassions and Encouragement, 2 Corinthians 1:3

Well Spoken of

He speaks well of us concerning spiritual things in the heavens, Ephesians 1:3

According to His great mercy we are born again, 1 Peter 1:3

He is the One who is well spoke of into the ages, Romans 1:25

Compassions – Having pity; Sympathetic sorrow for someone suffering or in distress

It is by the compassion (pity) of God that we are able to present our bodies as living sacrifices to Him, Romans 12:1

As the chosen of God we are to put on compassion (pity), Colossians 3:12

Our Pity needs to be Based upon the Pity God Shows Us

Those who broke the Mosaic Law were shown no pity, Hebrews 10:28

Not permitting Sin Among the Saints

That is not love, 1 Corinthians 5:1-2

Removing those who continue to sin from among the saints, 1 Corinthians 5:6-7

Showing Grace to Those who Turn from Sin, 2 Corinthians 2:6-7

Encouragement – to comfort, encourage, exhort

It is a Gift from the Holy Spirit for the Church, Romans 12:8

Not out from error or uncleanness or deceit, 1 Thessalonians 2:3

Exhorting is important alongside teaching, 1 Timothy 4:13

Discipline from the Lord is for our Encouragement, Hebrews 12:5

There are times when we need to bear with a word of exhortation, Hebrews 13:22

God Encourages Us in Our Tribulation, 2 Corinthians 1:4

Tribulation – a time […]

2 Corinthians Compassions and Encouragement2023-11-25T17:46:20-08:00

Dispensations and Ages

Evening School of the Bible

Dispensations and Ages

A Dispensation is a period in time in which God gives His expectations for the conduct of life through a steward for those in the household.

  1. The household is made up of people God is specifically dealing with – whether all of mankind or only a specific group.
  2. There is only one steward for each dispensation.
    • Scripture shows only one person per dispensation being given the expectations for those in the household
    • Even after the death of the Steward no other steward is put in his place
    • Most stewards did not die
    • When a steward died before the end of the Dispensation the instructions are passed down to those in the household through written word.
  3. When the steward is changed the expectations for the manner of life of the household changed
  4. Dispensations are for men and through them God shows something to mankind about mankind.

The Rules for Determining How to Define a Dispensation

Requirement for setting the rules to determine a dispensational period in Scripture

Must be taken from Scripture.

Based on the normal use of dispensation in the everyday language.

Makeup of a dispensation

Master – God

Steward, Genesis 41:41-43 ; 43:19

Household

At times it is all humanity.

Other times it is only specific groups of mankind (Jews, the Church).

A household can have only one steward at a time, Luke 16:2 .

The steward is responsible for dispensing the rules to the household, Luke 12:42 .

Only the person given the instructions for God’s expectation of conduct for the household is the steward.

Dispensations and Ages2018-11-25T05:51:43-08:00
Go to Top