Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. Ephesians 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself: From verse 9, we gather that God revealed the mystery of His will to us. He wants us to know His desire. It should not remain a mystery. Over the history of man, God revealed parts of His plan to His people. He dealt with His people in different ways in different periods of time. We refer to these different ways of dealing with His people as dispensations. Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness 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: The final dispensation of the gospel is known as the dispensation of the fulness of times. It is an age in which the Lord will "gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on the earth". Every key, power, and authority ever dispensed from heaven to men on earth, which is necessary for their eternal salvation will be restored at this time. All knowledge that has ever been revealed will in due course come to light in this final dispensation. What is meant by the dispensation of the fulness of times? It is a dispensation in which all other dispensations are merged or concentrated. It embraces and embodies all the other dispensations that have existed upon the earth wherein God communicated Himself to the human family. The fulness of times refers to a time when all God’s plans have been completed and there is nothing else that needs to be done. The word translated “gather together” suggests many things. It might be better translated “gather together again,” “reunite,” or “restore.” There was a time when all things were one. In the original creation the angels of God were one; but they were divided by sin. All creation was one with Christ the Creator; but sin has made a wall of separation between man and God. The Promises for the Nation of Israel shows how God will gather them back to Himself. Deuteronomy 30:3 That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee. Jeremiah 31:10 Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth His flock. Ezekiel 11:17 Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel. Ezekiel 20:34 And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. Ezekiel 20:41 I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen. John 11:49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, John 11:50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. John 11:51 And this spake he not of Himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; John 11:52 And not for that nation only, but that also He should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. The fact is, our God, according to the abounding wisdom and prudence of His grace, has scattered His elect across the face of all the earth in wrath, that He might in His great mercy gather them all together in one in Christ, for the everlasting praise and glory of His own great name. 1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. In redemption, by the sacrifice and blood atonement of His dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord God gathered together all His elect in one in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. This gathering will take place at the end of the world, in the day when Christ returns to earth the second time, when “the fulness of times” is finished. 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 fulness 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 3:3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Colossians 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 3622. oijkonomi÷a oikonomia, oy-kon-om-ee´-ah; from 3623; administration (of a household or estate); specially, a (religious) “economy”: — dispensation, stewardship. Gather together in one — Greek, “sum up under one head”; “recapitulate.” The “good pleasure which He purposed,” was “to sum up all things God‘s purpose is to sum up the whole creation in Christ, the Head of angels, with whom He is linked by His invisible nature, and of men with whom He is linked by His humanity; of Jews and Gentiles; of the living and the dead. Ephesians 3:15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named God means to gather up all together in Christ; or as Colossians 1:20 says, Colossians 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 1. First Dispensation:Dispensation of Innocence: This is the time period from the creation of Adam until the fall of Adam. 2. Second Dispensation: Dispensation of Conscience: This time period began with the fall of Adam and ended with the flood. The Bible says that during this time, every man did what was right in his own eyes. This time period lasted 1,656 years from Adam’s fall to the 600th year of Noah. (Gen. 5:1-29; 7:6, 11) 3. Third Dispensation: Dispensation of Human Government: This time period occurred after the flood. Men repopulated the earth and set up their own form of government and then began to build the tower of Babel. This time period ended when God confused their language and scattered men upon the earth. From Gen. 8:15- 11:32 4. Fourth Dispensation: Dispensation of Promise: This time period is when God visited Abram and called him and changed his name to Abraham. Called promise because of the covenant that God made with Abraham and his seed. God told Abraham that his seed would be Christ. The Abrahamic covenant is still in force today. We are the seed of Abraham. 5. Fifth Dispensation: Dispensation of the Law: From Ex. 12:38 until Christ died on the Cross. This was the Old Testament period that ended when Christ said, “it is finished.” John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. Gal. 3:19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; 6. Sixth Dispensation: Dispensation of Grace: This is the time period we are living in now. It is also called the dispensation of the church. A dispensation is a time period of God’s administering His kingdom on the earth. Theologians have labeled several such time periods since the creation. 1 Corinthians 15:24 Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 1 Corinthians 15:25 For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet. 1 Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 1 Corinthians 15:27 For He hath put all things under His feet. But when He saith all things are put under Him, it is manifest that He is excepted, which did put all things under Him. 1 Corinthians 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all. The context is clearly about a time when all things will have been accomplished so that God will be all in all. And the dispensation of the fulness of times is a dispensation which will see all things having been accomplished. Therefore, I believe that we may conclude the Eph. 1:10 and I Cor. 15:28 speak of the same time. When is the dispensation of the fulness of times? Again, the context of I Cor. 15:28 is about God’s plans being completed. And we read in I Cor. 15:26 that “the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death“. This will be accomplished at the end of the millennium when death and hell will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:14). By Ellen Gibson
Posted on: Sun, 25 Aug 2013 19:32:23 +0000
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