Nationalism

Mankind

Since mankind did not voluntarily abide by the Fourth

Divine Institution, God  Himself  had to enforce it before

the human race destroyed itself. That is why today we have

a multiplicity of races and languages---to establish and 

assure nationalism. Nationalism is ordained by God until

the Second Advent of Jesus Christ. Even when He reigns

on the earth during the Millennium, nationalism will still

be the order of the day.

A Bible Promise

The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will

take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will 

rejoice over you with singing.

Zeph. 3:17

Nothing New Under The Sun

6. Time Span

From the creation of Adam to the destruction of the

Tower of Babel--about two thousand years.

7. Four Divine Institutions

The Divine Institutions were developed and attacked 

in this first Age. Volition, Divine Institution Number

One, was attacked first in (Genesis, Chapter 3.) The attacks

on Marriage, Divine Institution number Two, and Family, 

Divine Institution Number Three, are covered in (Genesis

6:1-4) -- the angelic infiltration. Finally, Nationalism

was attacked in the erection of the first "United Nations

building" and the formation of the original "United Nations

organization:-- the Tower of  Babel (Gen. 11:1-9). God declared

it an abomination and destroyed it.

Ecclesiastes 1:9 

That which has been is that which will be, And that which has been 

done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun.

New American Standard Bible

No Agency

4. No Missionary Agency

With only one language , there was no need for a specified

missionary agency. Every believer was responsible for the

dissemination of the Gospel.

5. Means of salvation

Faith in Christ . This is true in every Dispensation. "For what

saith the scripture? Abraham believed God [the Lord Jesus 

Christ], and it was counted unto him for righteousness"

Rom. 4:3

Bible Promise

"I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to Me will never go hungry,

and He who believes in Me will never be thirsty."

John 6:35

Gentiles

 Seven Characteristics

of the Age are Dispensation of the Gentiles:

1. One language (Gen.11:6)

everyone spoke the same language, but it was not Esperanto.

Philology has not recovered the one language existing before

the Tower of Babel was destroyed.

2. One race: the Gentiles.

3. No Canon of Scripture:

there was no written Word as we have it today. God revealed

Himself in dreams, visions, direct contact, Theophanies,  ritual

and animal sacrifices. The historical record of this period is found

in the Book of  Genesis, but this was written by Moses who lived

in the following Dispensation.

 Bible Promises

Those who trust in the Lord will lack no GOOD thing.

Ps. 34:10

The Ages

Age Of The Gentiles

The first period is the Age of the Gentiles, which is divided

into three parts. The passage of Scripture which covers this

Age is Genesis, Chapters 1 through 11.

The Age of Positive Volition

Gen. 1:28--3:22

"Innocence"

The Age of Negative Volition

Gen. 3:23--8:20

"Conscience"

The Age of Nationalism 

Gen. 8:21--11:32

"Human Government"

Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace 

in which we stand, and we rejoice in HOPE of the glory of God.

Rom. 5:2

Different Ages Of Time.

In The Age

of the Gentiles, there was only one race in the world; hence, 

all believers were administrators and responsible for disseminating

the Truth. For example, Adam and Eve communicated spiritual in-

formation to their many children.

In the Age of the Jews, Israel was. This meant that believers 

in the nation of Israel were custodians of the Truth and responsible

for the dissemination of the Gospel.

In the Church Age, the Church, made up of all believers in the

Body of Christ. 

In the Millennium, Christ Himself will be the One.

The word HOPE I take for faith; and indeed HOPE is nothing else

but the constancy of faith.

John Calvin

God Puts Someone In Charge

Human Era

In every era of the human race, God puts someone in

charge of making the Truth of the Word of God clear

stewards or human administrators to fulfill His purposes.

We acquire the names of the four Dispensations--Gentiles,

Jews, Church and Christ---from their administrators-----

or in one case, the  Administrator.

Blessed are those whose HOPE is in the Lord their God.

Ps. 146:5

If you have been reduced to God being your only HOPE, you are in a good place.

Jim Laffoon