A SIMPLE GUIDE TO DISPENSATIONS!

A SIMPLE INTRODUCTION TO DISPENSATIONALISM!

The Bible uses the term "dispensation" four times:
         1 Corinthians 9:17 - For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward:  but if against my will, a dispensation of the Gospel is committed unto me.
       Ephesians 1:10 - That in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him.
       Ephesians 3:2 - If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me toward you.   
       Colossians 1:25-26 - Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the Word of God; even the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints.  

The Greek word translated "dispensation," is οἰκονομία (oikonomia).  This same word is translated "stewardship" three times:
       Luke 16:2-4 - And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee?  Give an account of thy stewardship; for you may be no longer steward.  Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do?  For my lord takes away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.  I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.

The King James Dictionary has this definition of the word "dispensation":  "An Arrangement of Things; a Scheme."  Ironically, it says that the word "stewardship" does not appear in the KJV! However, it does define "steward" as:  "Manager."

Middletown Bible Church (http://middletownbiblechurch.org/dispensa/dispch1.htm) had this to say about the two words:
       The Greek word for "DISPENSATION" is the word oikonomia (compare the English word "ECONOMY"). This Greek word is actually made up of two words: 1. oikos=house 2. nomos=law. Thus the word means, "the law of the house, house-law."
       A steward is a "household manager." He is one who looks after the goods and property of another. He takes care of that which belongs to another.  [In other words, a faithful steward carries out the wishes of the one in authority over the property he oversees.]

I believe there are seven dispensations in the Scriptures; each begins with God's instructions and ends with mankind's failure to carry out His instructions:
       INNOCENCE - Don't eat that fruit! - Adam ate the fruit!
                               - Adam kicked out of the Garden of Eden; death!
       CONSCIENCE - Populate the entire earth! - Mankind clustered around Babel!
                                 - God divided mankind by language groups!
       HUMAN GOVERNMENT - Maintain civil order! - Mankind was totally wicked!
                                                    - God destroyed them in the Flood!
       THE PATRIARCHS - Trust Me in the land! - Trusted Pharaoh in Egypt!
                                          - Four hundred years of Egyptian bondage!
       THE LAW - Obey My commandments! - Murdered God's Son!
                          - God temporarily set aside Israel! 
       THE CHURCH - Be unified and win the lost to faith in Christ! - Denominations!
                                  - God ends the age of grace with grace:  the Rapture!
       THE MILLENNIUM - Obey Jesus Christ! - Will form an army to fight Him!
                                           - The army destroyed and the Great White Throne Judgment!

WARNING:  

WE ARE NOW IN THE CHURCH AGE, BUT TIME IS RUNNING OUT!

DON'T LET THE CHURCH'S FAILURE PREVENT YOU FROM TRUSTING CHRIST!

BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND YOU WILL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE!