The intent of this study is to provide the reader with an overview of dispensational theology. It is the first of a series of studies on dispensationalism. I will start with the foundational information about dispensational theology, provide a little of the history of it, and build upon it from there ending with the relevancy of it along with how easy understanding the Bible comes as a result.

Before I begin, I want to let you know that I didn’t wake up one day and say “I’m a dispensationalist”. I had always thought of it as a nebulous theological term, favored by some and scorned by others. As it turns out, as my study of prophecy and theology deepens, I found that I actually fell into the category of classic dispensationalism…and I didn’t even know it.

My personal proclivity is towards systems, engineering, computers, systems of operations etc. A system is a means of applying and understanding an operation or set of operations as a process. In any complex mechanism there is a system of order and process that determines how that mechanism works…the Bible, definitely a complex work, is much the same.

From a macro point of view of the Bible there is a definite and clear design and process to it. This overall design is only clarified further when you start to examine the micro-processes (specific doctrine) within the system (such as salvation, the trinity, the rapture, the Church, Israel etc). Simply put, when you properly understand the overall process and design of God’s plan for man and redemption as a whole, the specific truth of relevant doctrines of Christianity become absolutely apparent.

That being said let us begin.

What is a “dispensation”?

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia defines a dispensation as:

dis-pen-sa?´shun: The Greek word (oikonomi?a) so translated signifies primarily, a stewardship, the management or disposition of affairs entrusted to one.

It is the method by which God carries out his purposes towards men or more simply put, its how God at different points in Biblical history has dealt with men. Over all of human history as you read through Scripture, God has ordained different things for men to show their faith in Him. For example, at one point in human history you have various requirements for man by God: sacrifices and works can be found during one time, or at another point you have the requirement of following God’s Law, and at another point the requirement of the belief in Christ. Those are three of the “big” ones.

What is dispensationalism?

Dispensationalism is the foundation by which many Christians read, interpret and understand the Bible. The funny thing is that many Christians, me included, have or had never heard the word “dispensationalism” let alone have the ability to define or describe it.

Simply put it’s a systematic framework for understanding Scripture. It is the basis for a literal understanding of Scripture. Dispensationalism is a system by which through periods of stewardship (or economies if you will) man is tested during God’s dealings with him. Confusing? Let’s put it another way.

As briefly mentioned earlier there are big differences in Scripture during different periods being discussed. A good example is the major difference between the Old and New Testament…a Christian who sins doesn’t need to sacrifice a lamb as required under the Law. And a Jew who did sin and performed the required sacrifice only received atonement for that sin not redemption. Further Adam lived before the fall, so surely his life was different than ours in a lot of ways. When Christ returns and rules on the throne of David during the millennium, things will be different as well. From these brief examples we readily see differences in how God is dealing with man differently during the course of human events and all within in His overall plan of salvation.

This is not to say that dispensationalism teaches that there are multiple ways to be saved, God forbid, and any who do are plain incorrect. Dispensationalism has to do with God’s testing, NOT His redeeming. Redemption is provided through Christ alone…the entire Old Testament looks forward to the Cross…and the entire New Testament relies upon it (looks back to it). The bottom line for salvation is in John 14:6

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Who has taught Dispensationalism?

Dispensationalist theology has been taught or proposed by many scholars, C.I. Scofield, Clarence Larkin, L.S. Chafer, H.A. Ironside, John Walvoord and Charles Ryrie are among them. Some theologians have expressed their understanding of this theological system more eloquently than others and some have slightly different understandings of how to divide history into various economies (or periods of stewardship).

There are principally three views, classic dispensationalism, revised dispensationalism and progressive dispensationalism. There is one other of which the first three are not and that is ultra-dispensationalism. This last view is totally abhorrent and actually causes much confusion. Those who scorn dispensationalist theology are generally only viewing ultra dispensationalism (which we will discuss at a later date) or they misunderstand the concept of dispensationalism. This author prescribes to a classic dispensationalist view of Scripture.

Types of Dispensationalism

Classic dispensationalism breaks out the details of every economy of time in God’s overall dealing with man…periods of stewardship in which an agreement was made by God with man in which they were to uphold the decrees set forth by God.

Classic dispensationism is generally divided into seven, eight or nine periods of stewardship. This author prefers nine (refer to the attached chart)

1. The Edenic Dispensation - (or Age of Innocence) from creation to the fall of man
2. The Antediluvian Dispensation - (or Age of Conscience) from the fall to the flood
3. The Postdiluvian Dispensation - (or Age of Human/Civil Government) from the flood to Abraham
4. The Patriarchal Dispensation - (or Age of Promise) from Abraham to Moses.
5. The Legal Dispensation - (or Age of Law) from the Exodus to the Cross
6. The Ecclesiastical Dispensation - (or Age of Grace/ Church Age) from the Cross to the Rapture
7. The Judgment Dispensation - from the Tribulation to the Judgment of the Nations (Matt 25:31-46)
8. The Messianic Dispensation - (or Kingdom Age/ Age of Righteousness) from the Judgment of the Nations to the White Throne Judgment to the creation of the new heaven and new earth.
9. The Fullness of Times (or Eternity Future) from the creation of the new heaven and new earth onward into eternity.

Revised dispensationalism merely cuts the number of dispensations down to four, five or six depending on who you ask. They will combine the ante and postdiluvian and the patriarchal into one dispensation due to what was required by God was basically the same (faith and some elements of works). I’m not necessarily saying this view is wrong, it just doesn’t add up for me systematically as there seems to be some clear divisions when stewardship is in view especially considering specific covenants and promises between God and man (like Abraham for example).

Progressive dispensationalism I feel is a step in a bad direction, sort of a compromise between the pre-millennial standpoint and the covenant theology (preterist) standpoint.

As a note, you can see in my list of the dispensations that there are alternative names for each dispensation. Some will say that the lack of unity in titling the dispensations or even the number of dispensations shows it to be untrue. But does it? Is not the bottom line the same? Does it not show God dealing and providing the mark to which man must strive? Whether you are a classic or a revised dispensationalist, the benefits of understanding the Bible in a like manner are the same…the truth.

What makes dispensationalism different?

There are a couple of things that separate dispensationalism from other theological systems of interpretation. First is its consistent use of a literal historical-grammatical means of interpretation. Other systems interpret Scripture literally some of the time or even most of the time but tend to alleghorize parts of it. Now be advised, using a consistently literal hermeneutic in no way implies “wooden” literalism, but rather it means consistently applying the grammatical rules of language when interpreting a passage…is it literal? Is it figurative? Is it an alleghory? Is it symbolic? 99% of “hard” verses (i.e. usually those prophetic in nature) are explained within the pages of Scripture. The context in which the passage is spoken will show one the truth. It is using the written Word to describe itself, not importing external ideas into Scripture (as those who consistently alleghorize or spiritualize Scripture do).

Second is a clear distinction between Israel and the church. Dispensationalists hold that there is a distinction between the two and the plan God has for them unfolds differently. Some systems replace Israel and the promises to her with the church (replacement theology).

Finally, why is a dispensational system relevant?

The best way to say it is to come out and say it protects believers from false prophets and bad doctrine. An article I read had some good examples:

If a group of professing Christians have decided to start sacrificing animals, we know it’s wrong as we understand that system is not for the church but belongs under the Legal Dispensation…the requirement of sacrifice was ended at the Cross. An extreme example I know, but it applies to doctrines of men on all levels.

It helps us with church practice within our congregations…we know that special garments, ornate buildings, altars, repeated sacrifices are not for the church today...it doesn’t follow the model of the NT church.

Also think about anti-Semitism. If one follows replacement theology and believes that the church has supplanted Israel as God’s chosen people, one can show respect or persecute the Jews as they see fit. However, we know that God was working with the Jews, is now working with the Church and will again in the future finish His work with the Jews.

In Summation:

Although only the beginning of the depth of understanding of dispensationalism and all of the truth it contains as a system of theology, I hope it brings forth the relevance and the basics to see how this doctrine came about and is of value.

Dispensationalism is a method of understanding Scripture as a systematic process in a complex mechanism and when properly done makes understanding the message Scripture is relaying crystal clear. It also insulates believers from bad doctrine and liberal theology.

It allows for a clear understanding of the overall plan for man by God and how through distinct periods of stewardship (economies of time) He was laying the groundwork for redemption in His Son, Jesus Christ.

In following studies we will look at the specific dispensations, requirements and God’s overall plan for man.