A dispensation in Christian belief is a divine ordering or management of affairs and events in the world, and the time during which a particular doctrine or practice is in force. One way to consider the broad stroke of God’s brush across the canvas of history is to look at how He has dealt differently with generation, and the progress of redemptive history dispensationally.
dis·pen·sa·tion

…in Christian belief, a divine ordering or management of affairs and events in the world

…the time during which a religious doctrine or practice is believed to be in force

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The word dispensation in Greek comes the Greek word ‘oikonomia’, which is a compound word comprising ‘oikos’ which means ‘house’, and ‘nomos’ which means ‘law’. It simply means a way in which someone runs a household or estate. In regard to Biblical history it refers to God’s respective ways of ordering and running His household or estate, the earth, through different times in history.

We present here the classic dispensational approach popularised by C.I.Scofield in the Scofield Reference Bible. Schofield defines a dispensation as “A period of time during which man is tested in respect of obedience to some specific revelation of the will of God.” Other views exist and some contend with the concept of dispensations on several grounds so the following information is by no means conclusive.

According to Scofield, there are seven dispensations described in the Scriptures, during which God’s dealings with mankind are defined and ordered. Each dispensation builds upon the one preceding and works toward God’s ultimate fulfilment of His purpose for the world and its inhabitants. Each dispensation has distinct characteristics.

i.               Innocence
Adam and Eve perfectly at one with God in the garden of Eden. This dispensation ended in judgement when Adam chose to rebel and eat of the forbidden fruit.
ii.              Conscience
This dispensation covers the time from Adam and Eve’s expulsion from the garden, until the time of the flood. During this time man lived according to his own conscience.
This dispensation ended in judgement with the flood.
iii.            Human Government
From Noah to Moses; this dispensation was the first to include judicial actions such as capital punishment, administered by mankind.
This dispensation ended in judgement at Babel.
iv.            Promise
From the dispersed population of humanity God chooses a man, Abram; through Abraham the next stage of God’s plan is outworked.
This dispensation ended in judgement with bondage in Egypt.
v.              Law
From Moses to the Cross (some would say to the birth of Christ); this dispensation was governed by the law as given by God through Moses.
It ended in judgement at the cross.
vi.            Grace
From the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ until the second Coming. Ends in judgement at the second coming of Christ. Certain aspects of this dispensation regarding the end times are disputable in their sequence and details.
vii.           The Millennial Reign of Christ
1000 year dispensation where Christ reigns on the throne of David in Jerusalem. This dispensation ends in final judgement before the new heaven and new earth.

We also note that there are two main dispensations marked by the Old and New Testaments.

The Biblical timeline can broadly understood dispensationally

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Accompanying Bible Timeline notes are also available for immediate download. The notes will greatly enhance your comprehension of the timeline, and introduce Biblical concepts that will broaden your understanding of God’s grace at work through the ages.
These comprehensive notes broadly cover:

• Timeline concepts to grasp the overall sweep of God’s dealings through history
• Jesus Christ through the Scriptures
• Prophetic pictures and concepts woven into Biblical history
• Major historical events on the timeline and where they are in the Bible
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See the rest of the Bible Timeline Series of posts…

Bible Timeline I – The Stunning Vista of bible chronology

Bible Timeline II – Christianity is rooted in rock solid history

Bible Timeline III – Dispensations

Bible Timeline IV – The Covenants

Bible Timeline V – A Supernatural Legal Drama

Bible Timeline VI – The Historical Understanding of the Biblical Timeline

Bible Timeline VII – Bible History the Typical Principle

Bible Timeline VIII – Jesus Christ and His-Story

Bible Timeline IX – This Is Your Story!