DISPENSATIONAL OVERLAP: PART ONE

1. FROM INNOCENCE TO THE FALL - Genesis 1:1-3:7
When Adam ceased to be innocent, he was evicted. It did not take years of gradual change. Adam and Eve hurried to make "aprons" of leaves because they not only knew they were naked, they knew the LORD God would be taking His "evening stroll" soon and discover their transgression. They had learned to fear God.

2. FROM CONSCIENCE TO THE FLOOD - Genesis 3:7-9:6
When man's consciences were ineffective and God had had enough, the transition to the next dispensation took thirty-nine days longer. The forty days of rain reinforced man's fear of God, at least for eight people.

3. FROM GOVERNMENT TO THE SCATTERING - Genesis 9:6-11:9
When man failed to spread out and govern Earth, God instantly altered man's ability to communicate. It didn't take long before groups began separating. Distrust and paranoia took care of the dispersal. They not only feared God, they feared each other.

4. FROM THE PROMISE TO THE BONDAGE - Genesis 12:1 - Exodus 19:2
Once the tribal groups had settled, God chose one man from one group and promised him that his offspring would have their own land. But his family, like Abraham, continued to go elsewhere for provision. When they decided to move there, four hundred years of bondage taught them to fear God.

5. FROM THE LAW TO THE TRIBULATION - Exodus 19:8 - Revelation 19:11
Before they would be allowed to reenter their promised land, they spent forty years discovering the One they had failed to trust to provide was able to make food and water suddenly appear. All but two died before they were permitted back into the land. When they entered, they did so with clear instructions on how they were to dwell there; the Law was meant to teach them to fear the Lord.

6. A PARENTHETICAL PERIOD KNOWN AS THE CHURCH AGE - Acts 2:2 - Revelation 3:22
The overview of this dispensation will be the covered tomorrow, Lord willing.

7. FROM THE MILLENNIUM TO THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT - Revelation 20:1-6
The one thousand year reign of Jesus Christ upon Earth is mentioned six times in the first seven verses of Revelation Twenty. Even with Christ present and being in total control of humanity, man is consistent: he prefers to believe Satan rather than believing God. Even before Satan is loosed to sway man against Christ, the Lord must rule "with a rod of iron." Man's fallen nature will not submit without a fight, and it will cost him dearly. He will spend eternity realizing that he had every reason to fear the Lord.