Dispensational Truth - Not Your Average Endtime Belief
The word dispensation is from a combination of two Greek words, oikos (house) and nomos (law). In its very basic meaning it conveys the idea of "house law" or "law of the house." It does not necessarily mean age, but it is often spoken of in this manner. For example, we may speak of the Jewish dispensation or the Christian dispensation. Usually what is meant is the Jewish age versus the Christian age. Some however associated the terms with futurist doctrines of Premillenial Dispensationalism. These are not the same. Jesus Gave the Apostles Authority to Administer the Law of the House of GodWhat do we mean by the above? In the Bible, the dispensation is sometimes translated stewardship depending on which version you use. Let's notice an example in 1 Corinthians 4:1. "Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God."Paul is speaking of the God-given authority to him and the other apostles as the ambassadors and administrators of the gospel to the church. They are required to govern God's house faithfully as a steward. Joseph, was a faithful steward who governed the house of Potiphar. During a debate I had years ago, my opponent sought to object to the temporal impact of the term dispensation by saying that "dispensation means the arrangement of affairs" or a government. He was correct in the definition, but not in his application. Why, because, the apostles were given that authority in the last days of the Jewish age, during the transition to the new covenant age of Moses. So, what do we mean by the dispensational truth? Use of Dispensation in EphesiansIn chapter one of Ephesians Paul speaks of the "dispensation of "the fullness of the times." Christ spoke of the fullness of the times as having arrived during his ministry, (Mark. 1:14-15). He is also said to have been born in the "fullness of times" (Gal. 1:4).Therefore, the dispensation of the fulness of times is one which came during the last days of the Jewish age. However, that dispensation was not the Jewish age. It was the beginning of the Christian age. "If indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you." (Eph. 1:2) Paul speaks of God giving him the dispensation of the gospel. That is the "law of the house of which he speaks." God governed the church, the house of God through the gospel. That is the "dispensational truth" of the Bible The Christian Dispensation Has No EndSome no doubt will feel we have insufficiently developed our thesis that dispensational truth has nothing to do with premillenial dispensationalism. But this is more than sufficiently answered in the fact that the Bible says that there is no end to the dispensation of the gospel.Since the gospel is the law of God's house. And since the gospel is everlasting, (Rev. 10:6) incorruptible and lasts forever, (1 Peter. 1:23-24) i.e. does not pass away, (Matt. 24:35)then the dispensation never passes away. To further support this truth, Paul says also that the church never passes away. "to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generation, forever and ever. Amen." (Eph. 3:21). See also Heb. 12:28). Therefore, since any doctrine which teaches the end of the dispensation cannot be a bible doctrine, then dispensatinalism as advocated by futurist eschatology cannot be a bible doctrine. That is the dispensational truth.
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