Judged

10. No Unbelievers

The Millennial civilization begins with believers only. 

All Jewish and Gentile  unbelievers are removed through

the Baptism of Fire. The unbelieving Jews are judged

according to Malachi 3:2-5; 4:1,2 and Ezekiel 20:37, 38.

The judgment of unbelieving Gentiles is given in Matthew

25: 31--46. The word "nations" in verse 32 refers to Gentiles.

He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His

arms and carries them close to His heart.

Isa. 40:11

A Change

9. Radical Changes in Nature

First of all, mankind will be loosened from the bondage of sin

(Rom. 8:19-22). Secondly, since sin had an adverse effect on nature

(Gen. 3:17, 18),

animals will lose their ferocity, as per Isaiah 11:6-8 and 65:25. These

are the passages which say that the wolf and the lamb, the leopard and 

the kid shall lie down side by side. The child shall put his hand in the

spitting cobra's den and not be hurt. (Now , don't try it today---------

this is not the Millennium! Thirdly, plant life will abound; so for those

who like flowers, there is nothing like the Millennium (Isa. 35:1, 2,7).

The Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from

being snared. Prov.3:26

They Will Revolt

7. Universal Prosperity

Free enterprise will reach an all-time high during the MILLENNIUM

(PSA. 72:7, 16).

But since people become bored even in prosperity, they will revolt against

God's perfect provisions at the end of the Millennium.

8. Universal Knowledge of God

"For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover

the sea" 

(Isa. 11:9).

God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God

Matt.5:8

Universal Peace

Political Organization

The largest political organization in this country----

the National Council of Churches of America-----

is working constantly for disarmament of the United States
on the one hand and promoting the United Nations on the other.
It is absolutely tragic! The only way to prevent war is to be stronger
than the next fellow and be ready for him so that it will not be worth
while to start a war!

Now here is the situation:  there will be universal peace when Christ
returns to the earth; until then there will always be the possibility of war.
We need an administration in office that will arm us and be prepared.

R.B. Thieme, Jr.
Book (Dispensations)
Berachah Tapes & Publications
5139 West Alabama
Houston, Texas 77056

All things are possible with God.
Mark 10:27

Gods Grace On Our Nation

Hot And Cold Wars

Today , if people really believe the Bible, there is just one thing

for a nation to do: prepare for war! Then if it does occur, it will

hopefully be of short duration. 

The Only thing that keeps us alive is the grace of God. We would

not be here at all if it were not for (a) believers who are taking in 

Bible doctrine and witnessing; (b) missionaries who know the Lord

and are going out with the Gospel; and (c) the fact that our nation

as a whole is NOT Semitic (Gen. 12:3).

R.B. Thieme, Jr 

Book "Dispensations"

Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do

not see. Heb.11:1

Continuation Of Number 6

Only  then will there be no need for strong national military forces; 

but this passage does not apply to us today. Jesus said in Matthew 

24:6,7:

And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of war: see that ye be not troubled:

for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall

rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, 

and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues

them from all their troubles.

Ps. 34:17

Free From Conflict

5. True Internationalism

The reign of Jesus Christ on earth will mean a universal rule of the world, 

but nations will still exist. At that point, there will finally be perfect world

government (Psa. 72; Isa. 11:1-5; Zech. 14:9).

6. Universal Peace

For the first time since  the Fall, the world will be free from conflict .

(Psa. 46:9; Hos. 2:18; Mic. 4:3).

...and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into 

pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against  nation, neither

shall they learn war any more (Isa. 2:4).

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

Prov. 16:3

Scattered

The Jews

are scattered today; they are under divine discipline;

 they will remain scattered. God 

promised that HE would restore them. When Christ returns

to earth, He will regather Israel (Isa. 35:3-10; Ezek. 20:34).

Only Jesus Christ can break the fifth cycle of discipline.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow

of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your

rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Ps. 23 :4

The Land is Challenged

3. Great Spirituality

There will be a maximum number of believers filled with the

Holy Spirit, and ecstatics will be bone fide during this period.

(Joel 2:28,29)

4. Israel Restored

Israel will be regathered universally as  a nation under  God.

Although Israel is a nation today, it is the result of man's work,

not God's. Many people are enthusiastic about the Jews going 

back to the Land, but it has no connection with Biblical prophecy.

The  small group of Jews back in the Land will be challenged until

Christ returns!

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Phil. 4:4

The Age Of The Christ

There are twelve general characteristics 

1. Perfect environment

For one thousand years there will be perfect conditions

on the earth (Isa. 11:1-9)

2. No Religion

That is, the system whereby man by his own efforts and

merits tries to gain salvation or the approbation of God.

In order to have perfect environment, religion must be 

removed from the world. Satan is the father of religion

(John 8:44), and since he will be imprisoned for one 

thousand years (Rev. 20: 1-3), his ace trump--religion

goes with him! 

For they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they

shall mount up with wings like eagles.

Isa. 40:31

Christ the Judge--Don't stand on Your Works

4. Destruction of The Universe

This will occur as recorded in 2 Peter 3: 7--13, when

the earth, as we know it, will no longer exist.

5. The Last Judgment

A final judgment of all unbelievers following the destruction

of the earth. Jesus Christ will be the Judge, and the issue will 

be: do you stand on your own works or the work of Christ? Those

who have rejected the judgment of their sins at the Cross must accept

the justice of God at the Great White Throne (Rev.20: 11--15).

 "I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans

for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope"

Jer. 29:11

Will We Be Happier

The Principle

That improving environment solves man's problems 

is one of the basic tenets of psychology and psychiatry.

Socialism even goes so far as to say: "We will improve

your environment and you will be happy." But a 

relationship with the Person of Jesus Christ is the only

answer!

 

 Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He

will never permit the righteous to be moved.

Ps.55:22

At The End

3. The Second Advent of Satan

This takes place at the end of the one thousand years...

"he [Satan] must be loosed a little season" (Rev.20:3 )

Satan persuades the unbelievers of the Millennium to 

rebel against perfect environment and the reign of 

Jesus Christ and leads the revolt against God. This 

demonstrates that perfect environment (or even good

or better environment) is not the solution to man's 

problems.

All of God's promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a 

resounding "Yes"!

2 Cor. 1:20

The Sin Nature

So the Millennial civilization starts with believers only.

However, in the course of the repopulation of Millennial

earth, because people still possess an old sin nature, many

will become negative and eventually reject Christ as Savior.

Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!

Ps. 144:15

Believers And Unbelievers

2. The Baptism of Fire

As one of the first activities of Christ when He returns to the 

earth, He separates surviving believers from unbelievers. All

unbelievers are cast off the earth; all believers  from the Tribulation

go into the Millennium. John the Baptist prophesied concerning  this

in Matthew 3:11; the details are given in Matthew 24:36--41 and 25:31-46.

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never 

walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

John 8:12

He Will Return

Age of Christ

The fourth and final Dispensation is the Millennium,

or the Age of Christ. For one thousand years, Christ

will rule on the earth (Rev.20:4) Oikonomos  or

 Administrator. This Dispensation is also divided into

several parts.

1. The Second Advent of Christ

When Christ returns to the earth, the Millennial Age begins.

God is love.

1 John 4:16

Faith

8. Salvation

As  in all four Dispensations, salvation is by

faith in Jesus Christ'

Act 16:31

Always Rebound and Keep Moving

Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's

purpose that prevails.

Prov. 19:21

Don't Lay Down

7. Filling of the Holy Spirit

The means of executing this Supernatural way of life is the filling

of the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5:18 commands every believer to be

filled with the Spirit; 1 John 1:9 specifies the mechanics. Under this

concept, every believer is an ambassador for Christ; therefore, every

believer is in full-time Christian service, and this does not require a

"one-shot" dedication on your part. Your full-time Christian service

may be different from someone else's because he is in a barracks ,you

are in an office; he is in a shop--- you are on a farm; he is in a home--

you are on a campus. Everyone has his own area of Christian service,

and there is actually no such thing as a "layman", unless it is a Christian

who "lays" down on his job!

Though you may stumble, you will not fall,

for the Lord upholds you with His hand.

Ps. 37:24

Our Directions

6. Supernatural Way of Life

This supersedes the Mosaic Law, which is not the way of life

for the believer today  (Rom.8:2-4). Remember that the giving 

of the Law to Moses, as well as Christ's restatement of it in 

Matthew, took place in the Age of the Jews. Neither keeping 

the Sabbath nor tithing are authorized for the Church Age.

Instead, the New Testament epistles give us the directions

for our modus operandi during the Dispensation of the Church.

 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of God stands forever.

Isa. 40:8

Communication

5. Completed Canon of Scripture

After the first century, all divine communication was contained

in written form; today there is no revelation from God outside

the Bible. Dreams, visions, trances and voices are no longer bona

fide revelations in this Age. The best one can say for these activities

today is that they are hallucinations; at the worst, they would fall into

the category of demon possession. People who hear voices or have dreams

and think these come from God are off base---- sometimes even non compos

mentis! There is no such thing for us as extra-Biblical revelation. God  speaks

only through His Word in the postcanon  phase of the Church Age.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's holy people.

Rev. 22:21

Priesthood

4. Universal Priesthood of the Believer

This priesthood is without equal. In the Old Testament, there was

no such thing as a universal priesthood among believers. Israel had

a specialized priesthood taken from the tribe of Levi,the family of

Aaron. In the Church Age, every believer is a priest; therefore, every

believer has the right of representing himself before God. The basis of

information and authorization on which you do so is Bible doctrine

communicated by a pastor--teacher. You live your own life as unto 

the Lord.

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the Strength of my 

heart and my portion forever.

Ps. 73:26

 We Are studying From the  book by R.B. Thieme,Jr.

"Dispensations"

New And Unique

3. Universal Indwelling of The Holy Spirit

This too, is new and unique. No Old Testament saint was 

ever indwelt by the Holy Spirit. A few Old Testament saints

were empowered by the Spirit for the performance of special

jobs. This is called "enduement". But in the Church Age, every

believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit for the purpose of function.

Phase Two, the Christian way of life, is a supernatural way of life

and demands a supernatural means  of  execution which can be 

accomplished only through the filling and power of the Holy Spirit.

Guide our feet into the way of peace.

Luke 1:79

Indwelt

2. Universal Indwelling of Christ

Every believer is indwelt by the Lord Jesus Christ.

This was prophesied by the Lord Jesus Christ Him-

self when He said, "...ye in me, I in you" John 14:20.

The moment we accept Jesus Christ as Savior, we

are entered into union with Him, and Christ "dwells"

within us for the purpose of  fellowship.

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Ps. 27:1

Spirit Baptism

Blessings

God's blessings are innumerable! Spirit baptism, as

its name implies, is entirely a work of  God the 

Holy spirit, who enters the believer into a relationship 

with the Son of God and makes him a member of 

royal family forever.

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, 

your sleep will be sweet.

Prov.3:24

Unique Assets

There are eight characteristics of the Church Age

And these are the believer's unique assets:

 

1. Positional truth--union with Christ

This union never existed before the Church Age. 

At  the moment of salvation, God the Holy Spirit 

places every believer in union with Jesus Christ

by means of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. This 

explains why Christianity is a relationship with a

Person and not a religion. In no previous Dispensation

did the Baptism of the Spirit occur; not even the greatest

saint in the Old Testament was in union with Christ!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you 

trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power

of the Holy Spirit.

Rom. 15:13

Rapture Or Resurrection

The Postcanon Period

From 96 A.D., with the death of the Apostle John, to the present.

The Age of the Church will terminate with the Rapture or -------

resurrection of the Church.  The way of life for Church Age 

believers

 and the doctrines pertinent to this period are found in the New

Testament Epistles---Romans through Revelation, Chapter 3. A

picture of the Church in heaven is described in Revelation,

Chapters 4 and 5.

God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of

 power, love, and self-discipline.

2 Tim. 1:7

A Historical Development

The Precanon Period

From the day of Pentecost (about 33 A. D.) The New Testament

was in the process of being written, but was not complete. The 

Book of Acts does not present the doctrines of the Church, but

gives the historical development of the precanon period of the 

Church Age. It declares, historically, how this segment differed

from the postcanon period. For example, precanon activity was

characterized by such temporary spiritual gifts as apostleship,

healing, tongues, miracles, etc. These gifts no longer exist, and

today we have no bona fide apostles, healers, or people speaking 

in tongues.

"I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace.

In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

John 16:33

Part Of The Timetable

Age of The Church

The third part of the timetable we call Dispensations

is the Church Age. The Scripture covering this period

of time is John, Chapters 14 through 17, the Book of Act

plus the New Testament Epistles, with the exception of

certain parts that deal with the Tribulation, Second Advent

or Millennium. An example of this would be portions of

Revelation, 2 Thessalonians 2 and 1 Peter 3. This Age is

divided into two parts: precanon and postcanon .

God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can

bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out.

1 Cor. 10:13