Dispensationalism is a theological framework that views history as a series of distinct periods or “dispensations,” in which God interacts with humanity in different ways. This essay explores the teachings of C.I. Scofield and other notable scholars on dispensationalism, providing a comprehensive definition, an analysis of the seven dispensations, and an examination of the responsibilities and judgments associated with each.
Word Count 2291 / Time to read: 12 minutes
Definition of a Dispensation
A “dispensation” is a distinct period in history during which God administers His plan for humanity in a specific manner. Each dispensation involves a particular set of responsibilities given to people, a test of obedience, and a corresponding judgment when those responsibilities are not met. C.I. Scofield, a prominent proponent of dispensationalism, describes a dispensation as follows:
“A dispensation is a period of time during which man is tested in respect of obedience to some specific revelation of the will of God” (Scofield Reference Bible, 1917).
It is crucial to understand what a dispensation is not. It is not a means of salvation, as salvation is always by grace through faith. Instead, it is an administrative order or stewardship arrangement in God’s governance of human affairs.
The Seven Dispensations
Dispensational theology typically identifies seven dispensations in the Bible. These are:
- Innocence
- Conscience
- Human Government
- Promise
- Law
- Grace
- Kingdom
Each dispensation is marked by specific responsibilities, a test of human obedience, and a consequent judgment for failure.
1. Dispensation of Innocence
Period: From creation to the fall of man (Genesis 1:28 – 3:6)
Scripture References: Genesis 1:28-30, 2:15-17
Responsibilities:
- Adam and Eve were to populate the earth (Genesis 1:28).
- They were to subdue the earth and have dominion over all living things (Genesis 1:28).
- They were to abstain from eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16-17).
Test: Obedience to God’s command regarding the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Failure: Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s command and ate the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:6).
Judgment: The fall of man, resulting in spiritual and physical death, and expulsion from the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:16-24).
2. Dispensation of Conscience
Period: From the fall to the flood (Genesis 3:7 – 8:14)
Scripture References: Genesis 4:1 – 8:14
Responsibilities:
- Humanity was to live according to the dictates of their conscience, informed by the knowledge of good and evil (Romans 2:15).
Test: Obedience to the internal moral law written on their hearts.
Failure: Increasing wickedness and corruption led to widespread violence (Genesis 6:5, 11).
Judgment: The great flood, which destroyed all life except for Noah and those with him in the ark (Genesis 7:17-24).
3. Dispensation of Human Government
Period: From the flood to the call of Abraham (Genesis 8:15 – 11:9)
Scripture References: Genesis 8:15 – 11:9
Responsibilities:
- Humanity was to repopulate the earth and spread out over it (Genesis 9:1).
- The establishment of capital punishment as a means of maintaining order (Genesis 9:6).
Test: Obedience to God’s commands and proper exercise of human government.
Failure: The people united in rebellion against God and built the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:4).
Judgment: Confusion of languages and the dispersion of people across the earth (Genesis 11:7-9).
4. Dispensation of Promise
Period: From the call of Abraham to the giving of the Law at Sinai (Genesis 12:1 – Exodus 19:25)
Scripture References: Genesis 12:1 – Exodus 19:25
Responsibilities:
- Abraham and his descendants were to live in the land God promised them (Genesis 12:1-3).
- They were to remain faithful to God’s covenant.
Test: Faith in God’s promises and obedience to His commands.
Failure: The descendants of Abraham went down to Egypt and eventually fell into idolatry and disobedience (Exodus 1:8-14, Joshua 24:14).
Judgment: Egyptian bondage and eventual deliverance through Moses (Exodus 1:14, 3:7-10).
5. Dispensation of Law
Period: From the giving of the Law at Sinai to the death of Christ (Exodus 20:1 – John 19:30)
Scripture References: Exodus 20:1 – John 19:30
Responsibilities:
- Israel was to keep the Mosaic Law, including the Ten Commandments and the sacrificial system (Exodus 20:1-17, Leviticus).
Test: Obedience to the Law of Moses.
Failure: Persistent disobedience, idolatry, and rejection of God’s prophets (2 Kings 17:7-23).
Judgment: The Babylonian captivity and the eventual destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in AD 70 (2 Chronicles 36:15-21, Matthew 23:37-39).
6. Dispensation of Grace
Period: From the death of Christ to the Rapture of the Church (John 19:30 – Revelation 3:22)
Scripture References: Acts 2 – Revelation 3
Responsibilities:
- Believers are to live by faith in Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and to spread the gospel (Matthew 28:19-20, Ephesians 2:8-9).
Test: Faith in Christ and obedience to the gospel.
Failure: Apostasy and widespread rejection of the gospel in the last days (2 Timothy 4:3-4, 2 Thessalonians 2:3).
Judgment: The tribulation period, described in Revelation 6-19, culminating in the second coming of Christ.
7. Dispensation of the Kingdom
Period: From the second coming of Christ to the final judgment (Revelation 20:1-15)
Scripture References: Revelation 20:1-15
Responsibilities:
- Christ will reign on earth for a thousand years, and humanity will live under His righteous rule (Revelation 20:4-6).
Test: Submission to Christ’s kingship and righteous rule.
Failure: At the end of the millennium, Satan will be released, and a final rebellion will occur (Revelation 20:7-9).
Judgment: The final defeat of Satan, the Great White Throne judgment, and the creation of a new heaven and new earth (Revelation 20:10-15, 21:1).
Timeline of the Dispensations
Below is a timeline summarizing the seven dispensations:
| Dispensation | Period | Key Events | Scripture References |
| Innocence | Creation to Fall | Creation, Fall of Man | Genesis 1:28-30, 2:15-17 |
| Conscience | Fall to Flood | Cain and Abel, Noah’s Ark | Genesis 4:1 – 8:14 |
| Human Government | Flood to Babel | Noah’s Covenant, Tower of Babel | Genesis 8:15 – 11:9 |
| Promise | Call of Abraham to Exodus | Abraham’s Covenant, Bondage in Egypt | Genesis 12:1 – Exodus 19:25 |
| Law | Exodus to Christ’s Death | Giving of the Law, Wilderness Wanderings, Prophets | Exodus 20:1 – John 19:30 |
| Grace | Pentecost to Rapture | Formation of the Church, Spread of the Gospel | Acts 2 – Revelation 3 |
| Kingdom | Christ’s Return to Final Judgment | Millennium, Final Rebellion, Great White Throne | Revelation 20:1-15 |
Key Scholars and Their Contributions
1. John Nelson Darby
Contribution: John Nelson Darby was a 19th-century Anglo-Irish Bible teacher and one of the influential figures in the Plymouth Brethren movement. He is often considered the father of modern Dispensationalism.
- Quote: “The Church is in a parenthesis outside the dealings of God with Israel” (Darby, Collected Writings, Vol. 2).
2. C.I. Scofield
Contribution: C.I. Scofield was an American theologian, minister, and writer who created the Scofield Reference Bible, which popularized Dispensational Premillennialism in the early 20th century.
- Quote: “Israel is an earthly people with earthly promises; the Church is a heavenly people with heavenly promises” (Scofield Reference Bible, 1917).
3. Lewis Sperry Chafer
Contribution: Lewis Sperry Chafer was the founder and first president of Dallas Theological Seminary, and author of the eight-volume “Systematic Theology.”
- Quote: “The Scriptures rightly divide the Church and Israel into two distinct entities” (Systematic Theology, 1948).
4. Charles C. Ryrie
Contribution: Charles C. Ryrie was an American Bible scholar and theologian known for his works on Dispensationalism and for the Ryrie Study Bible.
- Quote: “A dispensationalist keeps Israel and the Church distinct” (Dispensationalism Today, 1965).
5. John F. Walvoord
Contribution: John F. Walvoord was a former president of Dallas Theological Seminary and a prominent theologian specializing in eschatology and dispensational theology.
- Quote: “The return of Christ to the earth will be premillennial, pretribulational, and literal” (The Revelation of Jesus Christ, 1966).
6. Dwight Pentecost
Contribution: Dwight Pentecost was a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary and the author of “Things to Come,” a comprehensive book on Bible prophecy and eschatology.
- Quote: “Prophecy must be interpreted literally” (Things to Come, 1958).
7. Tim LaHaye
Contribution: Tim LaHaye was an evangelical Christian minister and co-author of the “Left Behind” series, which fictionalizes a dispensational premillennial view of the end times.
- Quote: “Prophecy proves that God keeps His promises” (No Fear of the Storm, 1992).
8. Hal Lindsey
Contribution: Hal Lindsey is an American evangelist and Christian writer known for his book “The Late Great Planet Earth,” which popularized Dispensational Premillennialism in the 1970s.
- Quote: “The literal fulfillment of prophecy is the hallmark of biblical truth” (The Late Great Planet Earth, 1970).
9. Arnold Fruchtenbaum
Contribution: Arnold Fruchtenbaum is a Messianic Jewish scholar and founder of Ariel Ministries, which focuses on evangelism and discipleship from a dispensational perspective.
- Quote: “The Bible must be interpreted literally wherever possible” (Israelology: The Missing Link in Systematic Theology, 1996).
10. Charles Feinberg
Contribution: Charles Feinberg was an influential American biblical scholar and professor who specialized in Old Testament studies and Jewish history, known for his works on prophecy and Dispensationalism.
- Quote: “The restoration of Israel is central to the fulfillment of biblical prophecy” (Millennialism: The Two Major Views, 1985).
Emphasizing God’s Covenant Promises to Israel
One of the fundamental tenets of Dispensational Premillennialism is the belief that God will fulfill His covenant promises to Israel. This includes the Abrahamic Covenant, which promises land, descendants, and blessings to Abraham’s descendants (Genesis 12:1-3, 15:18-21). In addition to the Abrahamic Covenant, Dispensational Premillennialism recognizes the importance of the Land Covenant (Deuteronomy 30:1-10), which promises the return of Israel to their land; the Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7:12-16), which guarantees a descendant of David will reign on the throne of Israel; and the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34), which promises a future renewal and spiritual restoration of Israel. The prophetic scriptures affirm that these promises will be fulfilled literally, with Israel restored to its land and playing a central role in the millennial kingdom (Ezekiel 36:24-28, 37:21-28; Zechariah 8:7-8).
By recognizing these distinct covenants, Dispensational Premillennialism maintains that God’s promises to Israel are irrevocable and will come to pass as prophesied. This perspective emphasizes that the Church does not replace Israel but rather that God has specific plans for both entities, each playing unique roles in His divine plan.
Conclusion: The Soundness of Dispensational Premillennialism
After comparing the various millennial views, Dispensational Premillennialism stands out as the most biblically sound. This conclusion is based on several key factors:
- Literal Fulfillment of Prophecies: Historically, all prophecies that have been fulfilled were fulfilled literally. This includes prophecies about the Messiah’s first coming, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the regathering of Israel. Dispensational Premillennialism’s insistence on a literal interpretation aligns with this pattern.
- Distinction Between Israel and the Church: Dispensational Premillennialism recognizes that God has distinct plans for Israel and the Church. This distinction is critical for understanding the fulfillment of God’s covenant promises to Israel, including the land promises and the future restoration of the nation.
- Comprehensive Prophetic Framework: This view provides a detailed and coherent timeline of end-time events, including the rapture, tribulation, second coming, and millennium. This framework helps to reconcile various prophecies and offers a clear narrative for future events.
Emphasizing God’s Covenant Promises to Israel
One of the fundamental tenets of Dispensational Premillennialism is the belief that God will fulfill His covenant promises to Israel. This includes the Abrahamic Covenant, which promises land, descendants, and blessings to Abraham’s descendants (Genesis 12:1-3, 15:18-21). In addition to the Abrahamic Covenant, Dispensational Premillennialism recognizes the importance of the Land Covenant (Deuteronomy 30:1-10), which promises the return of Israel to their land; the Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7:12-16), which guarantees a descendant of David will reign on the throne of Israel; and the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34), which promises a future renewal and spiritual restoration of Israel. The prophetic scriptures affirm that these promises will be fulfilled literally, with Israel restored to its land and playing a central role in the millennial kingdom (Ezekiel 36:24-28, 37:21-28; Zechariah 8:7-8).
By recognizing these distinct covenants, Dispensational Premillennialism maintains that God’s promises to Israel are irrevocable and will come to pass as prophesied. This perspective emphasizes that the Church does not replace Israel but rather that God has specific plans for both entities, each playing unique roles in His divine plan.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Dispensational Premillennialism provides the most biblically sound interpretation of end-times prophecy. Its literal approach to scripture, clear distinction between Israel and the Church, and detailed prophetic framework align with the pattern of fulfilled prophecies and God’s covenant promises. Recognizing these distinctions is crucial for understanding God’s redemptive plan for both Israel and the Church, culminating in the literal fulfillment of His promises in the millennial kingdom.
“I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew… For God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable” (Romans 11:1-2, 29).
This verse encapsulates the enduring nature of God’s promises to Israel and underscores the belief that His prophecies will be fulfilled literally, affirming the distinct and unique roles He has for Israel and the Church in His redemptive plan.
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.
Isaiah 40:8
All Scripture quoted from:
New International Version (NIV)
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