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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
Dispensationalism is a method of interpreting history that divides God's work and purposes toward mankind into different periods of time. Usually, there are seven dispensations identified, although...
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Donald Woody
Supporter
One can find out the information about the 7+ dispensations practically everywhere except the Bible. The Bible does not espouse, allude to or even support such notions as outlining God's purposed dealings with man throughout specific or select historical events or epochs of human history that climax in the future with a "raptured church and 7 years of great tribulation". The Bible list many events that have occurred throughout the history of humanity but the notion that purposely outline a segmented plan of God is unfounded The Bible authenticates such events through prophecy and none of Darby's teachings can be corroborated by biblical prophecy. Dispensationalism and it closely related teaching "the pre-tribulation rapture" was fathered and purported by the 19th century charismatic priest and heretic John Nelson Darby a co-founder of the Plymouth Brethren of Ireland. Darby formulated these ideas and theories based on his own understanding of apocalyptic scripture and then imposed these ideas upon scripture. He promoted his false theology through very prominent and questionable people such as C.L. Scoefield, the wealthy widow Theodosia Wingsfield Powerscourt, D. L. Moody of the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and William Kelly who became his chief proseletizer and interpreter. Both trains of thought completely wreak of human concoction and is in blatant error with what scripture really says; it makes the Bible say what no one ever understood it to say at least until the 19th century when Darby came along with his interpretations and teachings. So, for 18+ centuries no one ever understood the Bible to say what John Nelson Darby contended. The false teachings gained prominence throughout the 20th century through the work of modern day teachers such as Hal Linsey, Tim LeHaye and Jerry Jenkins. Today the teachings have been so ingrained in society that many accept them (virtually worldwide) as divine and spiritually derived, but nothing could be further from the truth. Today so much myth has been added to Darby's original false interpretation that now there are multiple and even conflicting views on the same false ideas; (What is dispensational premillennialism / premillennial dispensationalism? What is the dispensation of Law? What is Progressive Dispensationalism? What are the seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls in the Book of Revelation? What is the dispensation of Conscience? What is the dispensation of Promise? What is ultra-dispensationalism? What is the dispensation of Human Government? What is the dispensation of the Millennial Kingdom? The key to understanding this very important biblical information lies in the Old Testament and not in the human reasoning of the 19th and 20th centuries. Jesus Himself said it best "If you hold to my teaching you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free", John 8:33. Darby's life and doctrine clearly show that he did not hold to Christ's teachings. The teaching of dispensationalism and the pre-tribulation rapture are completely absent anywhere in scripture.
Singapore Moses
Supporter
As a Bible scholar, we can categorize the dispensations of a man into SEVEN categories as given below: 1. Innocence - could not tell the number of days/years; it covers re-creation of earth's second perfect state /second habitation to fall of man. The dispensation ended before Adam and Eve had an offspring (Gen. 2:21- 25; 4:1). 2. Conscience - 1656 years (Gen. 3:22-- Gen. 8:14) from Adam's fall to the 600th year of Noah (Gen. 5:1- 29; 7:6, 11) 3. Human Government - 427 years - Noah's Flood to the call of Abraham (Gen. 8:15-- Gen. 11:32) 4. Promise - 430 years - Abraham to the Exodus of Egypt (Gen. 12:1-- Ex. 12:37) 5. Law - 1718 years - (Ex. 12:38-- Mt. 2:23; 11:11; Lk. 16:16). From Moses to Christ. 6. Grace - It is now ongoing as we are living in 2014 AD.. It will end ONLY upon rapture of His Church. Once the saints or believers are raptured, anti-Christ to take over. 7. Divine - The seventh probationary period-- Dispensation of Divine Government, or Millennium (Rev. 19:11-- Rev. 20:15). Length of this period:1, 000 years (Rev. 20:1- 10). We are living in the sixth probationary period is called Dispensation of Grace (Mt. 3:1-- Rev. 19:10; Jn. 1:17). Length of this period:from the first to the second coming of Christ and the binding of Satan in the abyss at the end of this age. It has already lasted nearly 2000 years. The rapture, completion of the first resurrection, judgment of saints, judgment of nations, and the tribulation or Daniel's 70th week take place at the end of this age. We cannot say or predict when the church will be raptured as Jesus himself does NOT know name and hour. Only Father knows. As I can discern the mind of the Father God, the anti-Christ cannot take over so soon. It is quickly but not so quickly... At the end of these seven dispensations, we will enter into The New Heavens and the New Earth, when the earth is perfect the third time-- the eternal perfect state with God all- in- all again (1Cor. 15:24- 28), as before rebellion in the universe headed by Lucifer and Adam (Isa. 65:17; 66:22- 24; 2Pet. 3:13; Rev. 21-- 22). It is time to go back to the grace of throne on our kneels.... May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Thomas K M
Supporter
Dispensationlism was invented by John Nelson Darby in the 19th century and promoted through Schofield reference Bible. He believes that history was divided into 7 periods in which God dealt with mankind in 7 different ways 1. Innocence : before fall 2. Conscience : from Fall to Noah 3. Human Governmnt: from Noahnto Tower of Babel 4. Promise: from Abraham to Moses 5. Law: from Moses to Jesus 6. Grace: from Jesus to his 2nd coming 7. Millennial kingdom: from 2nd coming to 1000years However, no clear cut division of dispensationalism can be seen anywhere in the scripture.
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