Thank you all for allowing me to go through a review of the “Mystery” and how all the dispensations, through the progressive revelation of God, in due time, brought Jesus into this world to be the long awaited savior. The dispensations are as follows: Innocence – when Adam was in the garden of Eden, given a simple “gospel” of obedience, and failed, eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 1 -- 3 Conscience – after Adam was removed from the garden, mankind was given the “gospel” of sacrifice and live by your conscience. Failure in this dispensation brought on the flood, and the salvation of Noah and his family. Genesis 4 – 8 Human Government – after the flood, God established human government as the caretaker for mankind concerning issues of capital punishment, etc.. The “gospel” was simply to trust the government to fulfill God's commands, live according to your conscience and make the sacrifices established in the dispensation of conscience. Of course, as has been the case, man could not obey, and sought to enslave all of humanity through Nimrod's plan for a one world government. God confused the languages of all those gathered in the plain of Shinar, bringing to an end the dispensation of human government. Genesis 9 – 11 Promise – Abram is called out of Ur of the Chaldees, to follow the Lord to a land promised for him and his descendants. The “gospel” is given – Israel is established through the Patriarchs – Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The nation is redeemed out of Egypt through Moses the prophet. Genesis 12 -- Exodus 19 Law – Moses records the law and leads Israel on a 40 year wilderness journey, ultimately ending up in the promised land. The “gospel” of blessing and cursing is laid out in the law of Moses. Obedience will bring security, and disobedience will end up with destruction. Of course, the birth of Jesus, and his 33 years of sinless obedience, preaching the “gospel” of the kingdom, culminating in the cross fulfilled the law, and ushered in the “Mystery” period in which we live, known as the dispensation of grace. Exodus 20 – Matthew 28 Grace – During the years after the resurrection of Christ, Christianity transitioned from a Jewish gospel of the circumcision led by Peter, James, and John, to a Gentile gospel of the uncircumcision led by Paul, the singular apostle to the Gentiles. This dispensation will come to an end at the rapture of the Church Age saints. The letters of Paul were written to give the Church Age saints doctrine and guidance in this mystery period. Tribulation – the seven years of Daniel's 70th week will be the time of Jacob's trouble, when the world will turn against Israel and the Lord, the Deliverer out of Zion will save her from annihilation. The everlasting “gospel” of fearing God and worshiping the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters is delivered by an angel flying in the midst of heaven. Revelation 6 - 18 Millennium – The 2nd Advent / physical return of Christ will establish the everlasting kingdom. Revelation 19 -- 22 We will continue our study of Galatians One this coming week!
