DISPENSATIONS – GETTING STARTED
You will need readiness of mind to “line up your theology with the words of God”. Where your theology departs from the words of God you will be responsible to depart from your present theology. This study will depart from men and their traditions, anywhere men depart from the words of God. Be of good courage, remember, a man or woman cannot be fully accepted of God till he or she is totally rejected of men.
Part One
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works, and that being said we can be confident we have information needed to pursue what God said, when he said it, and to whom he said it.
Applying God’s words to the wrong people at the wrong time has resulted in much division within the Body of Christ and has spawned many modern cults such as Mormons, JW’s, Seventh Day Adventists, Oneness Pentecostals, TBN, INSP, GodTV, Churches of Christ, and the Charismatics just to mention a few. Most noticeably, many have taken God’s words in the Gospel of Matthew, The Acts of the Apostles, and the Book of Hebrews out of context and made them a pretext to support their false teachings and doctrines of devils. Some seeking to change times and seasons have gone so far as to apply Old Testament dietary laws and Sabbath keeping to Christianity ( a.k.a. Seventh Day Adventists) while others pervert the New Testament and claim apostolic authority.
So far we have only touched on how the lack of Biblical information concerning DISPENSATIONS that has caused many to follow false teachers and their many isms and schisms. This post will be continued with parts two, three, four, and five as well as a recap on DISPENSATIONS.
Part Two
Two dispensations or divisions most obvious to even the casual Bible reader are the Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament in addition to being the Book of the Law, is a prophetic book, it is also a record of how God dealt with man before the coming of Jesus Christ and a record of how he will deal with man in the future. The New Testament is the record of how God deals with men now and in the times to come, as well as how he dealt with man in the transition from the Old to the New Testament times. Both the Old and New Testaments contain dispensations within themselves. When these dispensations are misunderstood, misplaced, or misused the result is division, heresy, and false doctrine within and without the Body of Christ. In Part Three we will list and discuss dispensations found in the Old Testament and the plan of salvation found there. In Part Four we examine the Church Age dispensation found in the New Testament and the plan of salvation found there, with a brief discussion of what will follow the Church Age. Fifth we will look through a glass darkly at the time (dispensation) between the Old and New Testament plans of salvation which seems to be a favorite stopping place for those preaching and teaching various Pentecostal and Charismatic and Roman Catholic heresies. Then we will do a recap of all that we have learned.
Part Three
As we said before the Old Testament is a large notable dispensation that can be divided into smaller segments each being dispensations of their own. We must note here that time as a whole is just a small spot in the scheme of eternal things. Before the dispensations of the Old Testament, there was only eternity before God made the first man, Adam. Read and consider the following Old Testament Dispensations.
INNOCENCE – Gen. 1 – Gen. 3
CONSCIENCE – Gen. 4 – Gen. 7
HUMAN GOVERNMENT – Gen.8 – Gen. 12 and Gen. 13 – Exo. 19
OLD TESTAMENT LAW – Exo. 20 – Matt. 26
The reader is encouraged to read the previous groupings of scripture and see for themselves how each is a time period in which God deals with mankind under specific conditions and in specific ways. NOTICE that the Old Testament Law and man’s relationship to God under the Law remains the same all the way through Matthew chapter 26! We will examine chapters 24, 25, and 26 of Matthew more when we study the period of time know as the Transition at the end of our study. Keep this in mind, many cults, Charismatics, Pentecostals, and Kingdom Builders glean much error form the last few chapters of Matthew as well as the other Gospels and the Book of Acts. Stick with me as I lay out the basic dispensations of the New Testament in Part Four which will be the foundation for our exciting and informative study of the transition between the Old and New Testaments.
Part Four
The New Testament like the Old Testament is a dispensation itself and CANNOT be understood and rightly divided unless we understand the way God deals differently at different times (dispensation) with men in this Testament. If we confuse what God wrote to the man in the Tribulation with what He wrote to the man in the Church Age, the result is heresies. Likewise if we confuse what God says to men in the Millennial Kingdom with what He says to us in the Church Age, the result is false doctrines.
CHURCH AGE – Matt. 27 -Rev.4
TRIBULATION – Rev. 5 – Rev. 19
MILLENNIAL KINGDOM – Rev.20
ETERNITY – Rev. 21 – 22
THE TRANSITION – Matthew – Mark – Luke – John – Acts
You probably noticed that the Transition which happened before and during the first part of the Church Age was last in the above list. This was done purposely while the foundation was laid for this important dispensation study. As we continue to look at the Scriptures in Part Five and the overview we will learn how certain Scriptures in the last chapters of Matthew, and passages in Hebrews and Revelation do not seem to line up with salvation by grace through faith. They do not line up, because they are for another dispensation, not the Church Age. Thanks for sticking with me, now the foundation for our study is laid. Your time has been well spent as you are now prepared to learn about the TRANSITION!
Check out what Dwane Karr had to say about the previous Bible study on Dispensations before he wraps up our study with the period between the Old and New Testaments presented as the Intermediate Dispensation.
Good stuff on a critically important subject. Many believe the whole Bible was written doctrinally to them and for them and nothing could be further from the truth. Nearly every false teaching results from applying verses to a time (dispensation) that they do not fit into. Many ignorantly accuse the AV 1611 of contradicting because of a lack of understanding dispensational truth. If verses are not placed into the right time period, (Tribulation, Millennium etc) the Bible will most certainly appear to contradict. When one studies and sees how God deals with men differently during different dispensations the King James Bible is revealed to be a masterpiece of Majestic Harmony that could only have been Authored by The Creator of All Things! Amen. – Bro. Dwane Karr
Part Five
Intermediate Dispensation by Dwane Karr
This must be prefaced with the statement that salvation under The Law is by FAITH and WORKS. We must start here because most of what’s contained in the Four Gospels; Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John: are continuations of the Old Testament. The New Testament is not in effect until Jesus Christ says, “It is finished” and gives up the ghost in John 19:30. This fact is made clear by the following, “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testor. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.” Heb. 9:16-17 So the New Testament does not begin until Jesus Christ has made the Blood Atonement for sin. No one was Born Again in the Old Testament because the blood of God had not yet been shed! Furthermore there was no spiritual “Body of Christ to be baptized into for it could not have existed prior to the death of Jesus Christ.
So until Mathew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, and John 19 men were “technically” under the Old Testament Law. I say “technically” because the Scripture tell us, “The law and the prophets were until John.” in Luke 16:16 The Law was still fully in effect until the death of John the Baptist recorded in Mathew 14, Mark 6, and Luke 9. Thus the “Intermediate Dispensation” was from the death of John the Baptist up until Acts chapter two when the Holy Ghost fell on the believers and permanently indwelt them from that time on. Certainly no one was born again between the death of John the Baptist and Acts chapter two. It would appear that men still had to fulfill the Law and believe on Jesus Christ as the Son of God to be in good standing with God during that time.
Now to give you and idea of why I say this Intermediate Dispensation is the most difficult to define “doctrinally”, let me give you a few examples. You have a local church, but it is not part of the Body of Christ as it is in the Church Age. Eph. 1: 22-23 You have an organism, the vine in John 15 that is NOT Christ’s body. Also you have Eternal Security promised in (John 10: 27-30), but it does not match the Pauline epistles. For example in (John 10:29) Jesus says, “no man is able to pluck them out of my Fathers hand.” In the Church Age (1Cor. 12: 12-27, Gal. 2: 26-29, Eph. 5:30) we are part of the hand. Or take for instance Simon Peter in (Luke 22:32) where Jesus says, “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren”. When was he converted?! Wouldn’t you have thought he was already converted in (Matt. 16:16) when he said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” in answer to Jesus’ question?
The majority of time recorded in the Gospels the Jews were still under the Law. See Luke 6:27-35, as an example. Look at the list of “works” they were told to do and “if” they did them, (vs.35) “and ye shall be children of the Highest”. No “salvation by “grace” through “faith” here!! On the flip side if you did all Jesus told them to do in verses 27-35 without being “born again” to-day you would bust Hell wide open! For detail on this see Eph. 2: 8-9 and Titus 3:11. NO WORKS INVOLVED. Note also how John tells us (John 7:39) that no one was permanently indwelt with the Holy Spirit as we are in the Church Age, “But this spake he of the Spirit which they that believe on him SHOULD RECEIVE: for the Holy Ghost was NOT YET GIVEN; because that Jesus was NOT YET GLORIFIED.” Now look at the woman whom Jesus forgave in John 8: 1-11. His last words to her after He forgave heer sins, “Go and sin no more”. WHY? Though her past sins were forgiven, she was still under “faith and works = the Law”, so she had to straighten up and toe the line, living right and keeping the law to stay in a state of Grace before God. She had no new birth, no permanent indwelling Spirit, no imputed righteousness like we have in the Church Age.
Now in closing, let us look at “The rich young ruler” in Luke 18: 18-23. Now read carefully those verses and realize Jesus is telling him what he must do to be obedient (OK with God) “right then”. Notice we are dealing with “progressive revelation” in the Intermediate Dispensation, (Just like in the book of Acts). Bottom line for the young ruler (or anyone anytime), obey the light given in the Dispensation you are in and you are OK! If the rich young ruler does what Jesus says and follows him, he is good to go, “right then”. Then he will 1) Keep obeying God and go through the Crucifixion, Ascension, Acts 2, Acts 10, etc. and become a saved New Testament Church Age “born again” believer. If the ruler dies before the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ he will be an obedient Old Testament saint who dies in a state of forgiveness and goes to Abraham’s Bosom (Until the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ which will allow him to be caught up to the 3rd Heaven.)
SUMMARY
Look up all the scripture references to what Dwane and I have just said and it will become clear how putting God’s words in context keeps us from making them a pretext. The Bible study principle of putting Scripture into the right context and making your doctrine match what the AV1611 Bible says will clear up scores of Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Protestant, Baptist, and Charismatic false teaching and doctrines of devils, plus minor and major heresies in these last days.
I think this will be the last time that you will hear from me. I have answered ALL your questions and have only politely asked questions that have the support of scripture. I have clearly stated that I half agree, and that I wish to study the things that don’t make sense. I go to a church which is an independent, KJV only church. But, that is irrelevant when you believe what the Word says. My preacher will not get me into heaven nor will my church. And Ray, you wont get me into heaven either. There is only one way, Ray, and it would do you good to know this. The Word is our foundation, and the finality of all things.
Romans 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
I trust Jesus, the Word to teach me, not man. However Jesus says that we should come together and study His word. I think I will go somewhere else to study the Word. You seem to only want me to listen to you, rather than the Word.
We are given an example of how to be good stewards of the word in the book of John. You should learn how to decrease and let the word increase.
John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
The comments that you did not post had nothing to do with how God uses numbers in the scripture, which tells me that you didn’t even read them and consider. I based every question according to scripture. And NO I do not nor do I agree with speaking in tongues. And I am still trying to be polite by answering your questions. Keep to the One true Word Ray, and I hope to meet you there.
Appreciate your interest in this post and others. This is a Bible study presented by Dwane and I to EZEKIEL3 readers. You obviously do not agree with what we taught and it seems that through your published and non-published comments you want to detract from it with Bible numerology which has no place in this study and adds nothing to the truths of scripture presented here. EZEKIEL3 is a world-wide publication and I do not want to give you an international stage to present your numerology heresies, which you know are not even remotely related to what we discussed in this post. Frankly, I am tired of heading you off every time your didgit ideas DO NOT add up +_+_+_+_+_+ = 0. You do not present questions, but only your ideas, based on NUMEROLGY HERESIES.
May I ask you some questions that you probably will not answer? Do you go to a Bible-believing, Bible preaching, New Testament church that DOES NOT speak in tongues or do any of the other charismatic nonsense? If so what does your pastor think of this numerology mindset. Bro. Ray
Now these are fair questions and a reasonable discussion, Thank you. First, to answer your questions. Yes, I not only have been reading what you have written I also have been looking into this whole dispensation viewpoint. Now there are things that, well, just don’t jive. I tried to post those questions and the scriptures which I believe are the ones that do not add up. You deleted them and did not post them. Which I might add was a little disheartening to me. If you are willing to consider my questions at this point I will try to re post them, just let me know.
The questions I asked, kind of went along with the reasoning of what I believe will add or detract, but I think we must start at the beginning. In order for all parties to be comfortable. And know that we will stay within the confines of the scripture. After all, it is only the scripture, the foundation that we can base what we believe on. Now I think that we both know that we can not even trust our own hearts, feelings, or emotions.
Gen_6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
I appreciate your considerations.
There are a couple different paths that we can go down here, Please let me know where you would like to start.
One: I can re post the questions concerning your presentation.
Two: We can look at the alternative that I have presented.
I believe that either way, however, we will end up at the same destination. The truth of the scriptures.
For arguments sake let’s say that everything in this comment of yours is right. But, how does that add to or detract from what Dwane and I taught in this Bible study? I only agreed for arguments sake thought. Hope you can handle that.
I will try this one more time. The reason I bring up the fact that numbers mean something, is that if you look at the number seven through out the scriptures you cant get away from the idea that God intends that number to have something to do with spiritual completeness. Its not a secret code but the numbers God uses. Now Each day of the creation story God himself says are the six days we will work. They are Gods work. They are how He has separated the time periods. They are parables for a one thousand year time frame. In fact if you take and break down the bible story’s according to one thousand year breaks. You will find that those days of Gods work, do coincide with the parable of that day. Try it, you might learn something. It is scriptural also, my friend.
You are very anxious to put forth Scriptures that you think are relevant or give a different point of view and here they are. May I ask another question that you probably will not answer. Did you read the Scripture references that we gave in this study before you attempted to set forth your views and do you agree or not agree with the context in which we gave them? Waiting.
You know Ray, h.gual thinks its funny that I stopped talking to him or that Christians run and put their heads in the sand. But the fact is he does not understand that the scriptures tell us that
Tit 3:10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
Tit 3:11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
Its only the scriptures that I will consider, or that I will prescribe.
Are we having a misunderstanding here? It is the scripture that says to count the numbers, not me. Listen Ray its really, and ultimately of no concern to me whether you post anything I say or not. I am not concerned with how the world views me, only that I am doing the work I am commissioned to do, spread the word of God. I just find it awkward that you would call this a Bible study, but then, not post or even delete differing views. Even if you are the only one who reads it then Gods Word is still at work.
Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Mat 10:14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
Mat 10:15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
If what I present is not in the scriptures, show me my errors with scripture. If its just that you don’t like it or that you don’t wont to hear the Word of God, then I will shake the dust off my feet as I walk away from this. I guess you call it a Bible study.
I came to this blog because I saw a man who I thought stood on the scriptures, and that I could have a relatively enjoyable equal discussion about the one true Word. I am starting to believe that that’s not the case here.
Where are we going with this? What are we trying to accomplish?
Act 15:6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
We should work together to consider things.
Here we go with the AV 1611 Idolatry again, everything but Jesus.
Surprise, I posted it. But don’t you think it makes more sense to consider what the Bible says instead of what you think it adds+= up to?
Surprise, I posted it. But don’t you think it makes more sense to consider what the Bible says instead of what you think it adds+= up to?
I am only quoting scripture, Ray.
Such as this verse says to count the number 666.
Rev_13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
How do we do what this scripture says if we don’t count numbers.
And for a second witness; He tells us that He has
Psa_147:4 He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.
You probably wont post this, but just remember its not me your stopping, But, the Word of God.
I hope you can handle the truth. You are correct, I do not approve all comments to this blog. I will though at this time publish your last comment with a warning to my readers about numerology in the Bible. The warning is be careful. Recently on a local radio station I heard a former pastor advertising his book that gave a new slant on the Prosperity Gospel using secret hidden codes that He Says are in the Bible. I FOR ONE DO NOT BELIEVE IT!! So here is your next to the last post with this as a disclaimer and USER WARNING.
I hope you can handle the truth. You are correct, I do not approve all comments to this blog. I will though at this time publish your last comment with a warning to my readers about numerology in the Bible. The warning is be careful. Recently on a local radio station I heard a former pastor advertising his book that gave a new slant on the Prosperity Gospel using secret hidden codes that He Says are in the Bible. I FOR ONE DO NOT BELIEVE IT!! So here is your next to the last post with this as a disclaimer and USER WARNING.
Are you deleting and not posting my comments?
Numbers represent things in scripture. Even the scriptures say they do. But that is another study, isn’t it. Here are some excellent books to study this.
http://www.amazon.com/Biblical-Mathematics-Ed-F-Vallowe/dp/093742238X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385078750&sr=8-1&keywords=bible+mathematics
http://www.amazon.com/Number-Scripture-Supernatural-Spiritual-Significance/dp/0825420474/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1385078873&sr=8-2&keywords=bible+numerics+bullinger
You sure are stuck on that number 7.
Also if
Mat_13:34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:
So if everything is a parable, what is this parable about? Consider;
Gen 1:6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
Gen 1:7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
Gen 1:8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.
Think about Noah’s Flood.
I do want to clarify that I am not suggesting that there are more or less divisions. Only that I think they are divided differently than what has been put forward. There are seven, remember even the the Lord says there are only 7 days;
Exo_31:15 Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.
First, the New Testament writers argue their case by appealing to the Old Testament Scriptures themselves. After three full chapters proving that both Jews and Gentiles are unrighteous, quoting extensively from the Old Testament (Rom. 1-3), Paul said that no one will be declared righteous by observing the law.
Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Paul also points to Abraham, the father of the Jews who lived long before Moses. Paul writes, “If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about–but not before God. What does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness’ “.
Rom 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
Rom 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Gen 15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Gal 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
Gal 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
Gal 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
Gal 3:9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Finally, Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of all the symbols and predictions of the Old Testament.
Luk 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
Rom 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Rom 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
For example, the Jews celebrated the Passover every year to keep them focused on the One who was to come to die for their sins. As the book of Hebrews says, “The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming–not the realities themselves. Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest [Christ] had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy”.
Heb 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
Heb 10:2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
Heb 10:3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
Heb 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Heb 10:5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
Heb 10:6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
Heb 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
Heb 10:8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
Heb 10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
Heb 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Heb 10:11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
Heb 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
Heb 10:13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
Heb 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
I’m sure one could divide the periods of time in which God dealt with man in many more parts and run the risk of being a hyper-dispensationalist. We simply gave you some periods of time that God dealt with man in a certain manner to build a foundation for part 5 of our study, which one can see is not too clear during the transition from the OLD to the New Testament periods. We did this to show the reader how many cults, charismatics, Pentecostals and others try to bring situations recorded in the Gospels while men were still under the Law into the Church Age. Soon perhaps we can bring you a study on how some try to bring things written in Hebrews, Matthew and Revelation to people in the futureTribulation into the present Church Age. Applying scripture to the wrong people at the wrong time causes much confusion in the Body of Christ Jesus. Stick with us as we explore what God said, in the Bible and to whom he said it. Thanks for your comment.
I am trying to consider on how to convey this idea. You see, just as I said in previous posts, I don’t necessarily disagree with the idea that there are “dispensations”. However, its how man has tried to set them up and define them that concerns me. What I am saying is that God has already defined a time frame or “one thousand year parable” within the first day of creation, telling us what would happen during that time frame. And likewise, each following day is also a “dispensation” or one thousand year parable according to God’s work. So you do have 7 “dispensations”, spelled out according to God’s time frame within the story of creation.
Really? Did O.T. saint really look forward to the cross? They did not even know what a cross was until about 400 years before the death of Jesus on it. Be careful about jumping on the fundamental band wagon just because it sounds good. Take another look at our teaching and get back to me. Especially Par 5.
OK, what’s your point in regard to this post.
Here, lets look at the first day;
Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Gen 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Gen 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Gen 1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
Gen 1:5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
First lets note that the trinity can be seen in the first day.
“In the beginning God” = God the Father
“the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” = Holy Spirit
“And God said” = Word of God / Jesus
“God divided the light from the darkness” = Adam & Eve sinned so He separated them from the garden of Eden.
There is not much space here to go into all the scriptures that support this.
O.K., First point I would like to discuss is that you are assuming God is dealing differently with people in different time periods. Is God’s plan really broken up into different ways of dealing with people at different times? This is a dangerous assumption to make because it means that God is unpredictable. He has had different unrelated plans in the past and MAY THEN HAVE DIFFERENT PLANS IN THE FUTURE (Hence; the new age dis-belief). It also means that salvation in some of these dispensations was possible without the cross. Some people are saved, in this view, simply because of their national heritage. Now, Me and You, the both of us, would go to the grave believing in the ONE true Word.
Mar 12:29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
One God means one plan for all time and eternity.
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
There is only one way to God: Jesus Christ. The Old Testament saints looked forward in faith to what Christ would do on the Cross and we, in the New Testament era, look back in faith to what He did do.
God does not have separate methods of dealing with people in different dispensations, instead He has one unfolding plan revealed in different stages. Each stage builds on the one which has gone before and expands it.
Exo_20:9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
Exo_20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
“modus operandi” what’s that? Your not using bad language are you? LOL
“Something.”
Come on say something.
I didn’t say anything about this post. I said something about your modus operandi on this blog.
What discussion? Seriously did you say something about this post?
Ray? Trying to divert from the discussion? Why, that’s what he does naturally!
Sounds good.
Let me break this down for a moment and I will get back to you.
THANKS!!
O.K. I will wait and see.
amigodana: Patience my friend patience. I will be begin unfolding the Transition within the next two weeks. Try to understand that we are to search the scriptures not just gloss over them. Life changing teaching will be yours soon. God bless you, Bro. Ray P.S. I really do appreciate your attention to this post.
Um, O.K. I have “payed attention” and read what you wrote, this is the reason for the questions, in relation to what you are saying. Are you trying to divert from this discussion? I am asking for scripture supporting the divisions you have already stated. I need to first see how you divided the first sets before we move on to the “transitions”.
Pay attention in class and don’t ramble so much.
Have you read your assignment?
Also, let me clearly say that my questions are sincere. I must remind you though that we should;
1Th 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
So even the queen of sheba;
1Ki 10:1 And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.
1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
As to your first question concerning animal sacrifice, I am not real sure why you would ask that when the scriptures say,
Isa 1:11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.
Is God the author of confusion when He first sets a law and then say’s he delights not in that law? Of course not! So then, we can conclude that its not the physical act of animal sacrifice that is the point, again, it is a shadow of good things to come. It is a parable for those with eyes to see and ears to hear. Even God is asking us to figure out the purpose of that law. Hence the need to study the scriptures and prove the truth. Just as you quoted yourself,
2Ti_3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
You see the scriptures are very humbling when they tell us that,
1Co 8:2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
Basically, as children, we still have a lot to learn! So we must have all the scripture, all time, for all people, to understand. You know, when the Bible tells us that we know nothing as we ought to know, I personally don’t want to discount anything, not one jot or one tittle of the law.
Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Have the laws been fulfilled, all of them? What good things are the laws a shadow of? How can you truly know if they are not for all to understand as for instruction in righteousness? This verse would seem redundant unless there are in fact still laws to be fulfilled, even till heaven and earth pass. It would seem as though you are suggesting that this verse is an oxymoron.
Now concerning water baptism, Notice that the scriptures say that it is, “not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,”
1Pe 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
Now I don’t want to get to far from the subject here, after all I don’t want you to think that I disagree with you totally, you see I half agree. God has in fact said that He “Declares the end from the beginning”, “He spoke everything in parable” setting up the laws to be “a shadow of good things to come”, Everything God has done, His work, is within the context of a seven day / seven thousand year time frame based upon the creation story. I do however get concerned when I think that people are being taught to discount some scripture, That it is not for all. I have never seen a verse that say’s that. Lets start with Gen. 1 – 3, what simple verse designates a division or separation there? We must never imply anything though, we must have two or three scriptural witnesses to back it up. This is what I am asking for, is a clear and simple verse designating this particular division.
Rom_3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
amigodana: I must consider the possibility that you are not sincere in your questioning, so I will limit my answers to questions for you to answer. Have you or do you plan to do an animal sacrifice in the near future? Have you been baptized according to John’s baptism? Have you been able or will you to endure unto the end? Have you experienced any pillars of fire or rushing wind (other than c-rock or c-rap) in your worship services? Got GREAT TRIBULATION? Relax and review the material I have provided and wait for Part 5 and the conclusion or overview. Bro. Ray
Well, you see I am still confused because the scriptures clearly say;
Heb 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
You see the scriptures say that the law was and IS a shadow of good things to come, It even says;
Mat 13:34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:
In fact Jesus Himself say’s;
Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
It seems to me that the laws are shadows or parables of good things to come, so, we must still recognize them just as Jesus says. It would also seem to me that there must be a simple and clearly defined verse that say’s that we should separate things, and I am still not seeing that.
However, again I do see that our Lord separated everything into days, Such as, have you ever considered that the creation story is a parable for the works of God. Now that can be clearly defined in the context of the scriptures. After all you have these scriptures which state;
Isa 46:9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
Isa 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
amigodana: No need to apologize for asking questions. Everything in the Bible was written to you but not for you to practice or obey. Example: in Leviticus we are told not to eat FOUR-FOOTED FLYING BEASTS, we do not have to worry too much about breaking that commandment. Right? I will be working hard on Part 5 THE TRANSITION in the next couple of weeks for you, so in the mean time take a close look at the other dispensations I laid out for you and see if you can reconcile them to being saved in this the Church Age. My goal is to help people rightly divide the word of truth and applying Acts 2:38 to the Church Age is not rightly dividing. Thanks for reading and paying attention. Yours in Christ Jesus, Bro. Ray
O.K., forgive me here, but, I am little confused. First, you start out with the verse;
2Ti_3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Then, later on you say; “Applying God’s words to the wrong people at the wrong time has resulted in much division within the Body of Christ”. Now forgive me, but, I didn’t see where it makes the distinction or separation that it is for certain people at certain times. I am only seeing that all scripture is for everybody all the time. Can you please, through the simple words of the scripture show this to me. Remember there should be a simplicity in the words of Christ.
2Co_11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
Side note; This is one of those verses that was changed in the false perversions. It would seem as though they don’t want you to know that His word should be simple to understand, that even a child could get it.
Now we must remember that there are a couple things that we must, according to scriptures, adhere too.
Deu_19:15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
And for the second witness;
Mat_18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
And for the third witness;
2Co_13:1 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
So, what we have then is that even in the simplicity of Christ (the Word) it states that you must have two or three witnesses to establish a matter. And we must remember that;
Rom_3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
Now mind you, I do see that the scriptures say that there is six days of work to be done and the seventh (millennium) will be a day of rest, and here are the witnesses to attest to that;
Exo_20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Exo_34:21 Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest.
Exo_35:2 Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death.
Lev_23:3 Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.
Deu_5:13 Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work:
And so now we must have two witnesses as to what a day represents;
2Pe_3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
Psa_90:4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
So, I do see that our Lord has in fact separated six days or six thousand years of work, and one day of rest. There is in fact a simplicity in these verses specifically distinguishing the different days. I do like to hear others thoughts on these times, though. Please show me through scripture, in as equally simple scriptures showing your evidence.
Good stuff on a critically important subject. Many believe the whole Bible was written doctrinally to them and for them and nothing could be further from the truth. Nearly every false teaching results from applying verses to a time (dispensation) that they do not fit into. Many ignorantly accuse the AV 1611 of contradicting because of a lack of understanding dispensational truth. If verses are not placed into the right time period, (Tribulation, Millennium etc) the Bible will most certainly appear to contradict. When one studies and sees how God deals with men differently during different dispensations the King James Bible is revealed to be a masterpiece of Majestic Harmony that could only have been Authored by The Creator of All Things! Amen.