The Seven Dispensations
(1) INNOCENCE
(Adam) Innocence ends with man's fall into sin.
(2) CONSCIENCE
(Enoch) In future dispensations, men continue to live under conscience.
(3) HUMAN GOVERNMENT
(Noah, after the flood)In future dispensations, men continue to live under human government (until the kingdom age when men will live under God's direct and absolute rule)..
(4) PROMISE
(Abraham) In future dispensations, the promise is not put aside nor is it annulled (see Galatians 3).
(5) LAW
(David, John the Baptist) The law is temporary, "until the Seed should come" (Gal. 3:19). The dispensation of law ended at Calvary's cross.
(6) GRACE
(Paul) While the grace of God was evident in other ages, it receives its fullest manifestation and demonstration during this present age (Ephesians 2-3).
(7) KINGDOM
The rule of God has been operative throughout all dispensations, but supremely manifested when Christ Himself rules over the nations from the throne of David in Jerusalem. God's rule will continue in the eternal state.Each dispensation is a period in which God had different HOUSE RULES AND PRIVILEGES and men were given different responsibilities according to the light and truth which God had given to them. In each new dispensation God gives more truth and more light than was given in the previous dispensation.
Thus throughout history there is a PROGRESS OF REVELATION (God's truth is gradually and progressively revealed to man).
