The Dispensations (Ages of Biblical History – Oikonomia)
Colossians 1:25 (stewardship=”okoinomeō”); Ephesians 1:10; 1 Corinthians 9:17; Luke 16:16
| Innocence | Conscience – Romans 2:15 | Human Government | Promise | Law | Grace | Millennial Kingdom | |
| People Beginning the Age | Adam | Cain – Seth | Noah | Abraham | Moses | Paul | Christ |
| Beginning Event | Creation | The Fall | The Flood | Abraham | Sinai – In Midian | Pentecost | Second Coming |
| Closing Event | The Fall | The Flood | Tower of Babel | Sinai – In Midian | The Resurrection | The Rapture | The Great White Throne |
| Scripture | Gen. 1: 26 – 3:3 | Gen. 3:7 – 8:19 | Gen. 8:20 – 11:19 | Gen. 11:20 – Ex. 19:4 | Ex. 19:5 – Acts 1:9 | Acts 2:1 – Rev. 3:22 | Rev. 20:4 |
| State | Nothing said of sin in Gen. 1 & 2 | Eyes opened to Knowledge of good and evil – Gen. 3:7 | Knew God’s Revelation and were under it – Gen. 9:5,6 | Abrahamic Covenant- Gen. 12 | Under the Law – Ex., Lev., Deut. | Acknowledge self as sinner – Rom. 3:19,20 | Personal Reign of Christ – Rev. 20:6 |
| Responsibility | Not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil | Master Sin – Gen. 3:7 | Scatter – Gen. 9:5-7 | Go to the Promised Land – Gen. 26:1-4 | Obey the Law – James 2:10 | Believe in Christ – Acts 16:31 | Submit to King of Kings and believe Him |
| Failure | Gen. 3:1-6 | Gen. 6: 5, 11. 12 | Don’t want to scatter -Gen. 11: 1-4 | Permissive Will of God – Gen. 46: 1-4 | Jer. 11:8 | Rejection of Truth – Apostasy | Rev. 20:7-9 |
| Judgment | Sin Nature, Death, Expulsion | Flood – Gen. 6:13 forward | Confusion of tongues and dispersion | Bondage and exodus | Dispersion – II Chron. 36:14, Lev. 26: 32-39 | Death, Tribulation, 2nd Coming | Great White Throne – Rev. 20:9-15 |
| Grace Intervenes | New Chance, Promised Redemption – Gen. 3:15 | Noah & family removed from punishment | Abraham chosen | Moses the Redeemer | Savior & Restoration | Personal Reign of Christ | Tests Complete! New Heaven and New Earth |
| Question God Asks | Can I trust you? | Now that you know I mean it, can I trust you? | OK, can you govern and make it without me? | If I promise you to bless you, will you trust in me? | OK, here is exactly what sin is – will you not sin? | Your sins are forgiven, will you accept the gift on faith? | Will you obey if I am actually visible? |
| Dates & Duration
A.M.=Anno Mundi (year of the world) |
Creation
1 A.M. (~4004 B.C.) to the Fall ~10 A.M.? (~3994 B.C.?) [10 years??] |
The Fall
~10 A.M.? (~3994 B.C.?) To The Flood 1656 A.M. (~2344 B.C.) [1646 years?] |
End of Flood 1657 A.M. (~2343 B.C.) to Tower 1988 A.M. (~2012 B.C.) [355 years] | Abrahamic Covenant ~2000 A.M. (~2000 B.C.) to Mt Sinai ~2554 A.M.(~1446 B.C.)
[554 years] |
Mt. Sinai ~2554 A.M. (~1446 B.C.) to Resurrection 4028 to 30 (~28 to 30 A.D.
[1476 years] |
Resurrection 4028 to 30 A.M. (~28 to 30 A.D.) to Rapture ~6018 to 20 A.M.? (~2018 to 2020 A.D.?) [1990 years] | 2nd Coming ~6028 to 30 A.M.? to Great White Throne ~7028 to 30 A.M. (~3028 to 30 A.D.?)
[1000 years] |