Understanding God’s Program Through the Ages
Have you ever wondered why some parts of the Bible command animal sacrifices, while others teach salvation by grace through faith alone? Why the Lord Jesus told His disciples not to go to the Gentiles (Matthew 10:5-6), but later sent Paul to all nations (Romans 11:13)?
It’s because God’s Word must be rightly divided (2 Timothy 2:15).
The Bible is one book with one divine Author, yet within it, God revealed His purpose progressively — in different ways, to different people, at different times. These distinct instructions from God are what the Bible calls dispensations (Ephesians 3:2).
Time Past – God’s Dealings with Israel
In Ephesians 2:11–12, Paul tells Gentiles to “remember that ye being in time past… were without Christ… aliens from the commonwealth of Israel.”
This “time past” includes all of God’s dealings with mankind before the revelation of the mystery to Paul.
It contains two major dispensations:
1. Promise (from Adam to Moses)
God promised a Redeemer from the moment of man’s fall (Genesis 3:15). Through Abraham, God made covenants of promise — that through his seed all nations would be blessed (Genesis 12:1-3).
From Adam to Moses, men lived under conscience and promise — no law, no tabernacle, no priesthood. Salvation was always by faith in what God said (Hebrews 11).
2. Law (from Moses to Christ)
When Israel came out of Egypt, God added the Law because of transgressions (Galatians 3:19). The Law governed every detail of Israel’s national life — what they ate, how they worshiped, and how they approached God.
Under this covenant, Israel was God’s chosen nation, separated from the Gentiles (Exodus 19:5-6).
Yet the Law could only show sin — not remove it (Romans 3:20). It pointed Israel to their need for the coming Messiah.
3. But Now – The Dispensation of Grace
Then came the cross. Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
Israel rejected their Messiah, culminating in the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7). Instead of pouring out wrath, Christ from heaven revealed a new dispensation — a mystery kept secret since the world began (Romans 16:25; Ephesians 3:2-9).
Through the Apostle Paul, God unveiled the Dispensation of the Grace of God, where there is now “no difference between Jew and Gentile” (Romans 10:12).
Today, salvation is by grace through faith alone, apart from the Law, rituals, or covenants (Ephesians 2:8-9).
In this present age, God is forming a new spiritual organism — the Body of Christ — whose destiny is not the earth, but the heavens (Philippians 3:20; Ephesians 1:3).
This dispensation is not an interruption of prophecy, but a new revelation — the hidden plan of God to reconcile the heavenly places under Christ’s headship.
4. Ages to Come – The Kingdom and Beyond
When this Dispensation of Grace ends, the Body of Christ will be caught up to meet the Lord in glory (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
Then God will resume His prophetic program with Israel.
The coming Tribulation will prepare Israel for their promised Kingdom on earth (Matthew 24, Revelation 6-19).
After that, Christ will return and sit on the throne of His glory (Matthew 25:31). He will reign for a thousand years in perfect righteousness — the fulfillment of all the covenants and promises made since the world began (Acts 3:19-21).
Finally, in the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times (Ephesians 1:10), both heaven and earth will be united under one Head — the Lord Jesus Christ. The heavenly government will be administered by the Body of Christ; the earthly government, by redeemed Israel.
Why It Matters
Without rightly dividing the Word, Scripture seems to contradict itself — because not all of it is written to us, even though all of it is written for us (Romans 15:4).
• God told Noah to build an ark — not you.
• God commanded Israel to offer sacrifices — not you.
• Jesus told His disciples to sell all and follow Him — that was part of the Kingdom program for Israel (Luke 12:33; Matthew 19:28).
But to us today, Paul says, “We are not under the law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:14)
Conclusion:
From Genesis to Revelation, God’s purpose has always centered on the Lord Jesus Christ — first revealed as Israel’s King, now as the Head of the Body, and one day as Lord of all.
What a plan of redemption!
What amazing grace!
And the best part — you’re invited to be part of it.
Believe the gospel of grace: that Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose again — and the moment you trust Him, you become part of His body, sealed forever with the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13).
