𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘𝗦 𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗧, 𝗕𝗨𝗧 𝗡𝗢𝗪, 𝗔𝗚𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘

𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘𝗦 𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗧, 𝗕𝗨𝗧 𝗡𝗢𝗪, 𝗔𝗚𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘

Ephesians 2:7; 2:11–13; Colossians 1:25–27; 2 Timothy 2:15

𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍: RIGHTLY DIVIDING GOD’S DISPENSATIONS

God’s Word reveals His plan throughout history—not confusion, but clear distinctions between His dealings with mankind. The apostle Paul reveals a divine timeline summarized in three dispensational phrases:

“𝐈𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐭” — God’s dealings with Israel under the Law.
“𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗡𝗼𝘄”— God’s revelation of grace through Paul to the Body of Christ.
“𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞” — God’s future purpose for Israel and the eternal kingdom.

To understand the Bible, we must rightly divide it (2 Timothy 2:15), not mix programs meant for different people and purposes. Let us trace this divine timeline and discover God’s dispensational design.

𝗜. 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘𝗦 𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗧 — THE PERIOD OF SEPARATION (Ephesians 2:11–12)

Definition:
A time when God was dealing exclusively with Israel as His covenant people and the Gentiles were without hope and without God in the world.

𝘼. 𝘾𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙣 𝙋𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 – God’s Selection of Israel

Genesis 12:1–3; Deuteronomy 7:6–8

God chose Abraham to form a distinct nation.

Israel was given promises, covenants, and blessings.

Gentiles were outside this covenant circle.

𝘽. 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙨 – The Law of Moses

Exodus 19:5–6; Romans 3:19–20

The Mosaic Law was given to govern Israel’s conduct.

The law revealed sin but could not save.

The Gentiles were not under this covenant law system.

𝘾. 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙝𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙨 – The Kingdom Foretold

Isaiah 9:6–7; Acts 3:19–21

Prophets spoke of a coming earthly kingdom ruled by the Messiah.

The program centered around Israel’s repentance and restoration.

The Gentiles would be blessed through Israel’s rise, not fall.

𝘿. 𝘾𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙨 – Earthly Inheritance

Genesis 17:8; Ezekiel 37:21–22

Israel’s hope was physical and national.

Their inheritance was the land, not heavenly places.

The Messiah would reign from Jerusalem.

𝙀. 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 – Faith and Obedience

Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 28:1–2

Blessings were conditional upon obedience.

The Law demanded righteousness by performance.

Failure resulted in judgment and dispersion.

𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: In “Times Past,” God dealt with Israel nationally. Gentiles were strangers and aliens to the covenants of promise.

𝗜𝗜. 𝗕𝗨𝗧 𝗡𝗢𝗪 — THE PERIOD OF SALVATION BY GRACE (Ephesians 2:13; Romans 16:25)

Definition:
The present dispensation revealed to Paul, where salvation and blessings are offered freely to all, Jew and Gentile alike, through faith in Christ alone—not by works, but by grace.

𝘼. 𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩’𝙨 𝘾𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙨 – The Ground of Grace

Ephesians 2:13–16; Colossians 2:14

The blood of Christ broke the wall between Jew and Gentile.

The Law was nailed to the cross.

Reconciliation is now available to all.

𝘽. 𝘾𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙝 𝙤𝙛 𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩 – The Body, Not the Bride

1 Corinthians 12:13; Colossians 1:18

God forms a new organism—the Body of Christ.

All believers are one in Him.

No distinction between Jew and Gentile.

𝘾. 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙚 – Our Present Program

2 Corinthians 5:18–20; Ephesians 3:2–9

We are ambassadors, not kingdom preachers.

Our message: reconciliation through the gospel of grace.

Our commission: ministry of the mystery.

𝘿. 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 – Seated in Heavenly Places

Ephesians 2:6; Colossians 3:1–3

Believers are spiritually blessed in heavenly places.

Our citizenship is in heaven, not on earth.

We are complete in Christ—nothing lacking.

𝙀. 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙚𝙙 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 – Serving in the Spirit

Romans 6:14; Galatians 5:16

We walk by the Spirit, not by the Law.

Grace teaches us to live godly, not carelessly.

Service flows from gratitude, not obligation.

𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: “But Now” reveals God’s hidden program—salvation by grace through faith, apart from Israel’s covenant promises.

𝗜𝗜𝗜. 𝗔𝗚𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘 — THE PERIOD OF SATISFACTION AND GLORY (Ephesians 2:7)

Definition:
The future ages when God will fulfill His promises to Israel and display His grace through the glorified Body of Christ.

𝘼. 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙄𝙨𝙧𝙖𝙚𝙡 – God’s Covenant Fulfilled

Romans 11:25–27; Jeremiah 31:31–34

Israel’s blindness is temporary.

God will restore His earthly nation.

The New Covenant will be fully realized.

𝘽. 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩 – The Second Coming

Revelation 19:11–16; Zechariah 14:4

Christ will return to establish His kingdom.

The King of kings will rule the nations.

Israel will be the head of the nations.

𝘾. 𝙍𝙚𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙝 – Heavenly Display

Ephesians 2:7; Colossians 3:4

The Body of Christ will reign with Him in heavenly places.

We will be trophies of His grace for all ages.

God’s manifold wisdom will be revealed through us.

𝘿. 𝙍𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙍𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 – The Millennium

Isaiah 11:1–9; Revelation 20:1–6

The earth will experience peace and justice.

Satan will be bound.

The curse will be lifted.

𝙀. 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙍𝙚𝙙𝙚𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙙 – Eternal State

Revelation 21:1–4; 22:1–5

New heavens and new earth.

Eternal fellowship with God.

No more sin, sorrow, or separation.

𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: In “Ages to Come,” God completes His purposes—Israel restored on earth, and the Church glorified in heaven.

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐂𝐋𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍: GOD’S PLAN IS PERFECTLY PROGRESSIVE

Each dispensation reveals God’s progressive revelation and purpose:

In Times Past, Israel was chosen.

But Now, the Church is called by grace.

In the Ages to Come, God’s glory will be displayed forever.

Dispensational truth brings clarity, comfort, and conviction—clarity in interpretation, comfort in assurance, and conviction in service.

𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐓𝐎 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍: STAND STRONG IN THE RIGHT DIVISION

2 Timothy 2:15; Ephesians 3:9
Don’t mix Israel’s kingdom gospel with Paul’s grace gospel.
Don’t look for signs; look for the Savior.
Don’t be ashamed of the message of grace—proclaim it boldly!

𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒:

God’s Word must be rightly divided to be rightly applied.
The mystery revealed to Paul is the key to understanding today’s dispensation.
Our hope is not an earthly kingdom but heavenly glory with Christ forever.