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 1:10
Are you a dispensationalist? I hope so, because, as my son is fond of saying, ‘How can you not be? It’s in the Bible!’ Throughout the Bible, God has given us the breakdown of seven different dispensations, which are the administrations in which He deals with mankind. We should memorize them: innocence, conscience, human government, promise, law, grace, tribulation, and kingdom. Every one of these is a great study in itself, and we are not going to do that today. We will note that the fifth dispensation – grace – is the current one, the only reason why you and I can have any relationship with God. But we will look at the last dispensation, kingdom, because it is that dispensation to which our text today is pointing. And we do so joyfully, because we have a great part in that dispensation.
From the first to the sixth dispensations, something was wrong with each one. And in the seventh dispensation, Christ restores and corrects the wrong in each of the previous six. Understand that the wrong was not God’s fault, it was man’s fault. In the first dispensation, innocence, we have the first Adam, and his rejection of God’s truth’. In the kingdom, all will accept His truth. In the second dispensation, conscience, men’s evil hearts turn away from serving God. In the Kingdom, all will serve Him. In the third dispensation, human government, men reject the covenant and direction that God gave to Noah, resulting in the confusion of Babel. In the kingdom, men abide by God’s covenant and all confusion ceases. In the fourth dispensation, law, man constantly breaks the commandments and violates the program of service and worship. In the kingdom, the law is embraced by all. In the fifth dispensation, grace, man neglects and rejects the Saviour and God’s great plan of salvation. In the kingdom, the Saviour is the Centrepiece and is honoured and accepted by all. In the sixth dispensation, tribulation, man’s rejection of God and acceptance of the man of sin results in chaos, destruction, and judgment. In the kingdom, peace, harmony, and prosperity find their great fulfilment.
Christians are (or should be) peacemakers and a calming influence on the chaotic world around us. In the Millennium, our efforts at peace that are often futile now will meet with total success. Christians are (or should be) proclaimers and displayers of the Gospel message to an unbelieving and an apathetic world. In the Millennium, the apathy vanishes, and the truth of the Gospel will go forth unopposed. Christians are (or should be) obedient to the Word of God in all things amid a world of rampant disobedience. In the Millennium, all will obey the Word of God.
Our efforts at serving our Lord today may seem futile and weak. But we are merely in training for the fulness of times when our service for the Lord will produce perfect results. – Jim MacIntosh