Not By The Law

6. Time Span

From Abraham to  the Second Advent. This  Age  is

interrupted by the Church Age  and resumed in the

Tribulation. The Second Advent of Christ not only

terminates the Tribulation but also concludes the Age

of the Jews.

7. Salvation

People were not saved by keeping the Law, but by faith

in Jesus Christ as He was revealed in the Old Testament

(Gen.15:6, Gal.2:16).

8. Spirituality

The  mechanics for confession of sin were given in Leviticus

5:14-19. Spirituality was characterized by the faith--rest life

(Rom. 4: 17--22; Heb.11).

Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will

be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

Prov. 24:14

His Chosen People

The Second Dispersion

of the Jews of the Southern Kingdom under the fifth

cycle of discipline began at the fall of Jerusalem in

70 A.D., and will continue  until the Second Advent

of Christ. Never forget that God is not through with

the Jews; even though they are under discipline, they

are still His chosen people and they have a glorious

future.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own

understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will

make your paths straight.

Prov. 3:5--6

Defeat

The Northern Kingdom

which the Bible refers to as both "Israel" and "Ephraim"

was taken over by the Assyrians in 721 B.C.  The Southern 

Kingdom, known as "Judah", went down in defeat to the 

Chaldean Empire in 586 B. C., during the reign of 

Nebuchadnezzar, and were in captivity for seventy years.

Arise, and shine; for your light has come! 

The glory of the Lord is risen upon you.

Isa. 60:1

Punishment

The Jews

Have experienced this extreme punishment several times, 

and their present scattering is a continuation of the disciplinary

dispersion of 70 A. D. During the period of the Judges, the

nation of Israel was under severe discipline, but this was the fourth

 cycle as only part of the people were removed from the Land.

I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for

He is right beside me.

Ps. 16:8

Positional Truth

4. Four unconditional covenants:

The security of the regenerate of Israel was located in these

four  covenants. Therefore, positional truth for the Age of

Israel was the Abrahamic, Palestinian, Davidic and New

Covenants to Israel. Each of these covenants had an eternal

life clause.

5. Judgment:

Israel's special chastening for failure as a missionary agency

was the fifth cycle of discipline (Lev. 26:27-39). 

 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him,

and I am helped. My heart leaps  for joy and I will give thanks to 

Him in song.  (Ps. 28:7)

Characteristics

There are Eight Characteristics of the Age of The Jews

1. Many languages  (Gen. 11:9)

2. Many races of people.

3. A specific missionary agency:

The regenerate of Israel. The word Hebrew means "one

who crosses over the river."

Abraham crossed over the Euphrates River to evangelize

people who spoke a different language; thereby, he became

the first missionary.

The Lord's plans stand firm forever; His intentions can never be shaken.

Ps. 33:11

Complete

The Tribulation

This is a span of seven years and will complete the Age of 

Israel. Occurring after the Rapture of the Church ( 1 Thess.

3:13).

During those seven years, the Lord will once again deal with

mankind through His chosen people, and the world will be

tested by extreme adversity and judgments (Rev. 6:19).

We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,

which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Eph. 2:10

The Patriarchs

1.The Age Of Patriarchs

Gen. 12-- Ex. 20

This Age covers the period from Abraham to Moses.

Patriarchs were to be the rulers or the heads of their

families or tribes.

2. The Age of Law

Ex.20 to the Book of Acts

From Moses through the ascension of  Christ. The

Jews, who  had received their independence from

Egypt on the night of the Passover (Ex. 12), were 

all "redeemed"-- they were believers. God had led

them out of slavery, delivered them from the pursuing

enemy, provided for them in every possible way. As a

free people, they had to have laws of establishment in

order to protect and maintain their freedom. God 

 provided this protection in the form of the Mosaic Law,

which included the Moral Code or The Ten Commandments,

the Spiritual Code and the Social Code.

Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will

worry about itself.

Matt. 6:34

Age Of The Jews

Three Phases

1. The Age of Patriarchs

Gen. 12--Ex. 29

2. The Age of the Law

Ex. 20 to the Book Of Acts

3. The Tribulation

 1Thess. 4: 13-17, 1Thess. 3:13, Rev. 6-19

 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims

His handiwork.

Ps. 19:1

The Age Of Israel

Age Of The Jews

Just as there were three phases in the Gentile Age, so 

were there three phases in the Jewish Age.

The second Dispensation is the Age of the Jews, or the Age of 

Israel. The Scripture which covers this is Genesis, Chapter 12,

through Malachi, plus the four Gospels (with the exception of 

John, Chapters 14 through 17-- the Upper Room Discourse

and the Gethsemane Discourse). Although the four Gospels

are frequently taught to the near exclusion of the rest of the

Bible, they deal with the Age of Israel--- not the Church!

Jesus Christ ministered, died on the Cross, rose again, and

ascended --- all in the Age of Israel, the Age of the Jews!

We walk by faith, not by sight.

2 Cor. 5:7

Volition and Nationalism

Two Factors

Which protect the human race--volition and nationalism.

Volition is the basis of personal freedom, while nationalism

is the basis of preserving the human race and protecting it 

from self-destruction. When nationalism and the laws of

divine establishment were attacked, God changed the 

OIKONOMOS. (Oikonomia and Aion, form the

 basic ingredients of every dispensation.)  The judgment

of the Tower of Babel brought the first Dispensation to

an abrupt end and ushered in a new age.

From the book :

"Dispensations"

By R. B. Thieme, Jr.

(With the No Borders for Globalism

The Bible could not be planer. We will

self- destruct.)

PS 

A Bible Promise

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His

compassion's never fail. They are new every morning. Great is

His faithfulness.

Lam 3:22-23

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

Christ Reign Eternal

The Davidic Covenant

3. (2 Sam. 7:8-16; 22:51) perpetuates the Davidic dynasty

through the eternal reign of Christ (Luke1:32; Acts 2:29,30).

4. The New Covenant to Israel confirms the future of Israel

in spite of the administration of the fifth cycle of discipline

to both Northern and Southern Kingdoms, and relates the

future of Israel to the First Advent and strategic victory of

Christ which includes the cross, resurrection, ascension and

session.

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us,

so that through endurance and encouragement of the Scriptures

we might have HOPE.

Rom. 15:4

Unconditional

Everlasting Treaty

into which God entered

The Abrahamic Covenant (Gen. 12:1-3) establishes the 

Jewish race and the future nation Israel and anathematizes

anti-Semitism (Gen. 13:14-17; 15:1-7, 18; 17:1-8).

The Palestinian Covenant (Gen. 13:14,15) promises the Jews 

a specified territory in the Middle East and secures the final

restoration of Israel in this land after the Second Advent of

Jesus Christ (Isa. 11:11,12).

We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering

produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character'

HOPE

Rom. 5:3-4

Covenants

The Four Unconditional Covenants

An everlasting treaty into which God  entered with

 Abraham and his  born- again progeny (Gen. 17:7).

The treaty consists of four separate paragraphs and

guarantees the Jews a future, a purpose and a title 

deed to a land of their own. Unconditional in nature,

the treaty depends solely upon the character of God. 

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in 

His Word I put my HOPE.

Ps. 130:5

Events

To Summarize

The chronological series of events under the concept

of Chronos are: Patriarchs; the Mosaic Law and the

life of Moses; the period of the prophets; the setting

aside of Israel as a missionary agency; Israel resumed

in the Tribulation; the Second Advent and Millennium.

"Times" looks at the history of the human race from

the standpoint of Israel, while "seasons" takes these

events and divides them into segments or four general

categories of Dispensations: the Age of the Gentiles;

the Age of the Jews; the Age of the Church; the Age of 

Christ.

By R.B. Thieme, Jr
Book "Dispensations"

You will be secure, because there is HOPE you will look

about you and take your rest in safety.

Job. 11:18

Where Are We and Some Other Countrys

Third Cycle of Discipline

Violence and breakdown of law and order; cities broken up

Lev. 26:21,22

Fourth Cycle of Discipline

Military conquest and/or foreign occupation; scarcity

of food (reduced to one-tenth of the normal supply);

the breaking up of families 

Lev. 26:23-26

Fifth Cycle of Discipline

destruction of a nation due to maximum rejection of Biblical

principles

Lev. 26:27-39

See also Deuteronomy 28:15-48 for the five cycles, where their

listing is not progressive, but is specified as part of the same

curse. Verse 49 begins the description of the fifth cycle.

God will never forget the needy; the HOPE

of the afflicted will never perish.

Ps. 9:18

Discipline

Five cycles of discipline

1. First cycle of discipline: loss of health, decline of 

agricultural prosperity, terror, fear and death in combat,

loss of personal freedoms due to negative volition toward

Bible doctrine 

Lev.26:14-17

2. Second Cycle of discipline: economic  recession and

depression; increased personal and individual discipline

for continued negative attitude in spite of the first warning.

Lev.26:18-20

When doubts filled my mind, Your comfort gave me renewed

HOPE.

Ps. 94:19

Without Christ there is no HOPE.

Charles H. Spurgeon

Interesting Commentary

Peter 

was one of those who asked Jesus about the 'times and 

the seasons' in Acts1:7. Peter later learned from Paul,

as did everyone else, and in 2 Peter, Chapter 3, he wrote

a very interesting commentary.

Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.

Jer. 17:7

Positive minds full of faith and HOPE produce positive lives.

Joyce Meyer