DISPENSATIONS

1. DISPENSATIONS • Given the day and age in which we live, many of the old definitions and familiar labels have changed in meaning. • The label of “DISPENSATIONALIST” has been hijacked… • Today, if someone claims to be a “DISPENSATIONALIST”, you had better stop and ask them to explain what they mean – and what they believe. • YOU WILL FIND A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT BELIEFS THAT GO BY THE LABEL OF ‘DISPENSATIONALISM’ • Some are variations of others and some are just down right wrong… • To us, a ‘Dispensation’ refers to a period of time during which mankind is approached by God in a specific, unique way. • Nothing more and nothing less…. • We do believe all of history can be divided into several dispensations all of which point to the Lord Jesus’ 2nd Coming when God and His creation will dwell together in righteousness, face to face….

2. Giving ‘it’ a Bad Name… • There is a wide range of ‘Dispensationalist interpretations’ from: • ‘Fundamental’ Extremists to the ‘Liberal’ Terrorists • Each willing to destroy any brother in Christ not sharing their particular view… • Christian firing squads always form in a circle... • God’s truth is: • typically found somewhere between the extremes of religion • but is always found in His Word • Traditional Dispensationalists believe there is a distinction between the Israel and the Church; • that God’s promises and dealings with Israel are not yet completed not fulfilled • that the Church has not and will not replace Israel as God’s chosen people • At the other end of the ‘Dispensationalist’ spectrum are the ‘Progressive Dispensationalists’ – Reconstructionists and the Kingdom Now beliefs • Since we are convinced they are in error, we will not discuss them here… • Between these are a whole selection of beliefs and spins for you to pick from.

3. For our purposes, a “DISPENSATION” is: • A period of time during which God approaches Mankind with His Grace in a specific way through specific people; • It is how God chooses to ‘dispense’ • His revelation of Himself and His will • to Mankind. • The term dispensation is found twice in the NKJV: • "The dispensation of the fullness of the times" <Eph. 1:10> and • “The dispensation of the grace of God" <Eph. 3:2>. • KJV uses the term four times <1 Cor. 9:17; Eph. 1:10; 3:2; Col. 1:25>

4. How Many Are There? THE DISPENSATIONS ARE DIVIDED BASED UPON HOW GOD AND HIS CREATION, HOW GOD AND MAN, RELATE TO AND INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER. There are many Dispensational divisions depending on your particular definition of Dispensationalism… FOR OUR PURPOSES HERE, THERE ARE 8 DISPENSATIONS. THE DISPENSATION WE HAVE NUMBERED “0”’ IS ONLY COUNTED IF YOU INCLUDE HOW GOD RELATED TO ‘THE WHOLE OF CREATION’. THIS WOULD BE THE UNIVERSE BEFORE THE CREATION OF MAN. THERE ARE ONLY 7 DISPENSATIONS IF YOU LIMIT YOUR CONSIDERATION TO GOD'S DEALINGS WITH MAN.

5. THE DISPENSATIONS • 0] DIVINE FIAT (Latin: Let it be so) - from Eternity past to the creation of man Gen 1:1 • 1] INNOCENCE- from Creation to the fall of man Gen 1:26 to Gen 3:5 • 2] CONSCIENCE - from the fall of man to the flood Gen 3:6 to Gen 9:1 • 3] HUMAN GOVERNMENT - government of mankind by man Gen 9:1 to Gen 11:10 • 4] PROMISE- from the call of Abraham to Moses Gen 11:11 to Exod 19 • A Mediator - A man chosen by God • A man  a Family  A Nation … • The nation of Israel (Hebrews - “God’s Chosen People) established • 5] LAW - from the giving of Mosaic Law to Jesus Resurrection Ex 19 to Acts 1 • Judges  Kings and Prophets • 6] CHURCH AGE- from the resurrection of Christ to His 2nd Coming; Acts 1 to Rev 4 • the Church Age; Jesus the sacrifice, mediator, and priest for man with God • God becomes a man  Jesus  Our Eternal Prophet, Priest and King • 7] KINGDOM - Jesus rules as King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev 19:1 to Rev 20:6 • 1,000 years of peace, righteous rule and security

6. Dispensations  How many Wills • Divine Fiat: There is 1 Will - God’s God said it and it was so… • But Lucifer said: I can do as well as God can – Divine Fiat is challenged • Innocence: God creates Adam who walks with God in the light of God’s Will • God said: Walk and talk with me and see how good it is! • Follow me. Submit your Will to mine • But there are 2 Wills in the Universe – God’s and Satan’s • Satan said: Eve, Adam, You can do as well as God can • Man said: ‘I Will’ – There are now many wills in the Universe • Conscience: Many Wills – each doing what was right in their own eyes • – I’ll do it my way - Cain kills Abel. • Human Government: Man says: Just let us define and punish wrong for ourselves. • We can handle it. There are many Wills - each trying to force others to submit • Promise:God said: Abraham obey me and I will work through you and your descendants • to show man how good following my Will really is… • Law: Israel says: Wait a minute, if you tell us what to do, we will do it • But, Israel fails to do it. You can’t legislate ‘righteousness’. • Israel says: If you would just give us a good leader, we’d be able to stay in line. Then we’d be able to keep your law. • Israel gets its king and still goes its own way – As a nation it exercises its own Will rather than God’s Will. You can’t legislate and enforce ‘righteousness’.

7. Dispensations: How many Wills ??? • Church Age:God says: Since you can’t do or be ‘right’ on your own using your own • resources – as Israel has proven – I’ll provide a means for you to become righteous before me. • Jesus is born a man, lives, dies and rises again in order to give anyone who accepts it, ‘right standing before God through Christ. • Call it exercising your Free Will…My Will surrendered to His Will • Mankind says - Hold on. If we will all just pulled together, we’d do just fine. We just need tolerance and if you won’t be tolerant, we’ll crush you… • Kingdom: God says:- Without Me you can do nothing –you’ve proven that. In spite of all • your attempts and failures, you won’t believe it. So I’m going to rule and enforce righteousness. Accept it and see how good it is. - • After a 1,000 years of Righteous rule – without Satan’s influence, much of Mankind says: We won’t accept or submit to your Will. • Mankind will have tried every way they can think of to deal with God’s will and has failed each time. • God says - You still reject My truth and righteousness, the world you’ve run is falling apart. • You can’t do it your way and won’t submit to mine even when I show you how good it is…. • You are without excuse !! Welcome to Judgment…and a New Heaven and a New Earth • No more mitigating factors and No more excuses for rejecting God’s will. • Once again there is one will running the universe • Only those who have accepted God’s love and goodness and who have submitted their own wills to His will live to see it…

8. DIVINE FIAT • FROM CREATION TO ADAM = DIVINE FIAT; • GOD SAID SO, SO IT IS; AMEN… • Creation and Eschatology are vitally linked. • Both require a God – a Creator, Designer – who intrevenes • Both require a God who cares and is Involved with mankind’s affairs • Both require Man to be responsible and accountable to his Creator, God • GENESIS 1 (KJV) • In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. • 2 And the earth was without form, and void; • and darkness was upon the face of the deep. • And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. • 3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

9. OT:1254 bara' (baw-raw'); a primitive root; (absolutely) to create; To Make from nothing Bara’ • GENESIS 1 • In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. • GENESIS 1 • 2 And the earth was without form, and void; • and darkness was upon the face of the deep. • And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. • 3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. (KJV)

10. OT:1961 hayah (haw-yaw); a primitive root [compare OT:1933]; to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary): KJV- …, be (-come), accomplished, … , break, cause, come (to pass), …. • OT:8414 tohuw (to'-hoo); from an unused root meaning to lie waste; a desolation (of surface), i.e. desert; figuratively, a worthless thing; adverbially, in vain: • KJV-confusion, empty place, without form, nothing, (thing of) nought, vain, vanity, waste, wilderness. • OT:922 bohuw (bo'-hoo); from an unused root (meaning to be empty); a vacuity, i.e. (superficially) an undistinguishable ruin: • KJV-emptiness, void. • OT:2822 choshek (kho-shek'); from OT:2821; the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness: • KJV-dark (-ness), night, obscurity. ?? GENESIS 1:2 ?? • GENESIS 1 • 2 And the earth was without form, and void; • and darkness was upon the face of the deep. • And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. • 3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. (KJV)

11. ?? What Is the Was ?? came to be • GENESIS 1 • 2 And the earth was without form, and void; • and darkness was upon the face of the deep. • And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. KJV OT:1961 hayah (haw-yaw); a primitive root [compare OT:1933]; to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary): KJV- …, be (-come), accomplished, … , break, cause, come (to pass), …. • Used 3,560 times in the Hebrew in the Old Testament: • Always of an intervening event or a subsequent condition. • Most often translated: • ‘And it came to pass’… or ‘It shall be’… or ‘became’ • Or some form of the above OT:1933 hava' (haw-vaw'); or havah (haw-vaw'); a primitive root [compare OT:183, OT:1961] supposed to mean properly, to breathe; to be (in the sense of existence): KJV-be, X have.

12. Isaiah 45:18 OT:1254 bara' (baw-raw'); a primitive root; (absolutely) to create; (qualified) to cut down (a wood), select, feed (as formative processes): create (as a creator), … • 3588 For • 3541 thus • 559 saith • 3068 the LORD • 1254that created • 8064 the heavens; • 430 God • 1931 himself • 3335that formed • 776 the earth • 6213and made • 1931 it; • 3559 he hath established it, • 1254he created it • 3808 not • 8414 in vain, • 3335he formed it • 3427 to be inhabited: • 589 I • 9999 am • 3068 the LORD; • 369 and there is none • 5750 else. KJV OT:3335 yatsar (yaw-tsar'); probably identical with OT:3334 (through the squeezing into shape); ([compare OT:3331]); to mould into a form; especially as a potter; figuratively, to determine (i.e. form a resolution) OT:6213 `asah (aw-saw'); a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application (as follows); to press, to squeeze, to do, to produce… • Check Genesis 1 – 3 again • What was ‘Created’? • What was ‘formed’? • What was ‘produced / built’?

13. Isaiah 45:18 • OT:3559 kuwn (koon); a primitive root; properly, to be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a great variety of applications, whether literal (establish, fix, prepare, apply), or figurative (appoint, render sure, proper or prosperous): • KJV-certain (-ty), confirm, direct, faithfulness, fashion, fasten, firm, be fitted, be fixed, frame, be meet, ordain, order, perfect, (make) preparation, prepare (self), provide, make provision, (be, make) ready, right, set (aright, fast, forth), be stable, (e-) stablish, stand, tarry, X very deed. • 3588 For • 3541 thus • 559 saith • 3068 the LORD • 1254 that created • 8064 the heavens; • 430 God • 1931 himself • 3335 that formed • 776 the earth • 6213 and made • 1931 it; • 3559 he hath established it, • 1254 he created it • 3808 not • 8414 in vain, • 3335 he formed it • 3427 to be inhabited: • 589 I • 9999 am • 3068 the LORD; • 369 and there is none • 5750 else. KJV • OT:8414 tohuw (to'-hoo); from an unused root meaning to lie waste; a desolation (of surface), i.e. desert; figuratively, a worthless thing; adverbially, in vain: • KJV-confusion, empty place, without form, nothing, (thing of) nought, vain, vanity, waste, wilderness. he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: • Versus Gen 1:2 OT:922 bohuw (bo'-hoo); from an unused root (meaning to be empty); a vacuity, i.e. (superficially) an undistinguishable ruin: • KJV-emptiness, void.

14. ETERNITY PAST >= 4000 YEARS BC • So Scripture indicates that BETWEEN GEN 1:1 AND 1:3 THERE WAS A LONG PASSING OF TIME during which GOD’s Creation went from order and fit for inhabitation to chaos, disorder and uphevil due to some event or circumstance. • VERSE 1 - GOD CREATES THE UNIVERSE ISA 45:18 • (GIVES LUCIFER DELEGATED AUTHORITY OVER IT) ISA 14:12-17 / EZEK 28:11-19 • VERSE 2 - LUCIFER FALLS AND IS PUT DOWN (LOSING GOD'S AUTHORITY). • VERSE 3 - GOD RESTORES ORDER • CREATES MAN "A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS“ PS 8:4-9 / HEB 2:6-9 • DELEGATES HIS AUTHORITY OVER CREATION TO MAN. GEN 1:26-28 • -- OR IT MAY BE THAT – • THERE WAS NO DISRUPTION OR CHAOS IMPOSED ON EARTH BETWEEN GEN 1:1-3 • THAT GOD COULDN’T SAY WHAT HE REALLY MEANT THROUGH ISAIAH. • -- OR IT MAY BE THAT – • THAT GOD SAID EXACTLY WHAT HE MEANT AND THAT IT HAPPENED JUST THAT WAY

15. ETERNITY PAST >= 4000 YEARS BC • DOMINION = STRONG'S # 7287 RADAH (RAW‑DAW'); • A PRIMITIVE ROOT; TO TREAD DOWN, • I.E. SUBJUGATE; SPECIFICALLY, TO CRUMBLE OFF: • KJV‑‑ (COME TO, MAKE TO) HAVE DOMINION, PREVAIL AGAINST, REIGN, (BEAR, MAKE TO) RULE OVER, TAKE. (DIC) • SUBDUE = STRONG'S # 3533 KABASH (KAW‑BASH'); • A PRIMITIVE ROOT; TO TREAD DOWN; HENCE, NEGATIVELY, TO DISREGARD; POSITIVELY, TO CONQUER, SUBJUGATE, VIOLATE: • KJV‑‑ BRING INTO BONDAGE, FORCE, KEEP UNDER, SUBDUE, BRING INTO SUBJECTION. (DIC)

16. ETERNITY PAST >= 4000 YEARS BC • Until Lucifer fell, there was ONE and ONLY ONE WILL in the universe – GOD’s WILL. • But then Iniquity was found in Lucifer • – He decided he could become LIKE the Most High • – He determined to ascend above God’s Throne • – He exercised a WILL of his own. • – He set his own WILL above God’s WILL. • There were now (2) WILLS in the Universe.

17. ETERNITY PAST >= 4000 YEARS BC • ACCORDING TO EZEK 28:13, LUCIFER WAS IN EDEN ADORNED AND ARRAYED AS GOD’S ANNOINTED CHERUB. (vs12 & 14) • THE FALL OF LUCIFER MUST HAVE HAPPENED AFTER EDEN HAD BEEN CREATED • GEN 1:2 EARTH WITHOUT FORM AND VOID ... • DARKNESS COVERED THE FACE OF THE DEEP. • Did God permit Lucifer to continue his authority over creation as proof and a witness to the angels that Lucifer was incapable of being LIKE God with the result that creation – intended by God for order and inhabitation - disintegrated into chaos and darkness ?? • Or was the change in creation a result of sin’s entry – a catastrophic event brought about by the Iniquity found in Lucifer ?? • Or was it a result of Lucifer’s rage and anger at being thrown down from his lofty position ?? • WE CANNOT ABSOLUTELY TELL FROM SCRIPTURE

18. ETERNITY PAST >= 4000 YEARS BC • FALL OF LUCIFER (KING OF TYRE - LIT: KING OF STONE, ROCK) • EZEK 28:11-19 • 11 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, • 12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. • 13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. • 14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. • 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. • 16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. • 17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. • 18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. • 19 All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more. (KJV)

19. ETERNITY PAST >= 4000 YEARS BC • FALL OF LUCIFER (THE KING OF BABYLON) • ISA 14:12-17 • 12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! • 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: • 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. • 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. • 16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; • 17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? (KJV)

20. CREATION / DESTRUCTION CYLES IN SCRIPTURE • GEN 1:1-19 CREATION, HEAVEN, EARTH, UNIVERSE, 6 DAY CREATION • PS 102:25-26 GOD LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH • GEN 2:4 EARTH BEFORE THE 6 DAY CREATION • ISA 45:18 GOD FORMED THE EARTH TO BE INHABITED • JOB 38:1-7 'WHERE WERE YOU WHEN I LAID THE FOUNDATIONS OF • THE EARTH...?' • GEN 3:22 'MAN HAS BECOME ONE OF US' - REMOVE HIM FROM • GARDEN BEFORE HE EATS OF THE TREE OF LIFE • JER 4:23-28 GOD VIEWS EARTH 'WITHOUT FORM AND VOID' DUE TO • FOOLISHNESS OF MAN • 2 PETER 2:5 EARTH'S DESTRUCTION (BY FLOOD AT NOAH'S TIME) • 2 PETER 3:5-7 EARTH'S DESTRUCTION (BY FLOOD AT NOAH'S TIME) • REV 21:1 NEW (YOUNG OF AGE) HEAVEN AND EARTH - • OLD IS PASSED AWAY

21. MAN, CREATED IN GOD'S OWN IMAGE, BECOMES THE MEDIATOR BETWEEN CREATION AND GOD. • GOD DIRECTS AND MAN ADMINISTERS. • MAN IS GIVEN RESPONSIBILITY TO SUBDUE AND HAVE DOMINION. • GEN 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. (KJV) • HEB 2:6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? 7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: (KJV) • PS 8:1 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. 3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; 4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? 5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. 6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: (KJV)

22. TRANSGRESSION • TRANSGRESSION: • TO EXCEED SET LIMITS; • TO GO BEYOND A BOUNDARY. • ADAM'S SIN (TRANSGRESSION) WAS TO GO BEYOND GOD'S LIMITS (DIRECTION) AS GOD'S ADMINISTRATOR (MEDIATOR) ON EARTH. • Like Satan before him, Adam, as an act of his own will acted in defiance of God’s will

23. LUCIFER: Light Bearer • INITIALLY HAD BEEN GIVEN GOD’S DELEGATED AUTHORITY OVER CREATION. • LUCIFER LOST HIS GOD GIVEN POSITION AND AUTHORITY BY PRESUMPTUOUS REBELLION AGAINST GOD'S OWN SOVEREIGNTY AND AUTHORITY • EVENTUALLY – FOR HIS OWN REASONS - GOD RESTORED HIS CREATION ORDER, • LUCIFER, NOW CALLED SATAN (THE DEVIL), BEGINS TO INTERFERE WITH MAN AND BECOMES A MAJOR PLAYER IN MAN'S RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. • LUCIFER (SATAN) HOPED TO GET MAN – GOD’S NEW IMTERMEDIARY HAVING AUTHORITY AND DOMINION OVER CREATION – TO REJECT GOD’S WILL IN FAVOR OF SATAN’S WILL • MAN CROSSED HIM UP • INSTEAD OF IGNORING GOD’S WILL AND FOLLOWING AND SUBMITING TO SATAN’S WILL, MAN CHOOSE TO FOLLOW HIS OWN WILL • Instead of just (2) WILLS in the Universe, there were now 4 WILLS and with each new human birth another WILL came into play.

24. THE FALL OF MAN • GEN 3:1‑5 • 1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? • 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: • 3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. • 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: • 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. (KJV) • TEMPTED TO KNOW GOOD AND EVIL AS IF GODS. • MAN ‘WILLS’ TO LIVE WITHOUT GOD’S GUIDANCE

25. DILEMMA WITH ADAM'S FALL, HE, HIS SEED AND ALL CREATION WAS LEFT WITHOUT A MEDIATOR WHO HAD RIGHTFUL ACCESS TO AND FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD. SOMEONE WAS NEEDED WHO COULD AND WOULD ACT IN GOD'S BEHALF WITH CREATION AND ON CREATION'S BEHALF WITH GOD.

26. GOD OF THIS WORLD • SATAN BECAME "THE GOD OF THIS WORLD" - (COSMOS: WORLD SYSTEM) - MANIPULATING, USURPING AND INFLUENCING THE AFFAIRS OF CREATION, MEN AND NATIONS ALL OF WHOM WERE NOW WITHOUT A MEDIATOR. • SATAN SEIZED UPON THE VOID LEFT BETWEEN GOD AND CREATION TO IMPOSE HIS WILL AND RULE BY TAKING ANY MAN (WHO WAS CREATED AS AN INDEPENDENT SPIRITUAL BEING WITH A FREE WILL OF HIS OWN) CAPTIVE WHO WOULD NOT PERSONALLY RESIST SATAN AND YIELD TO GOD. • SATAN OPPOSED THOSE WHO DID RESIST HIM, OPPRESSING THEM IN ANY AND EVERY WAY POSSIBLE. • 1 JOHN 5:19 And we know that we are of God, • and the whole world lieth in wickedness. (KJV) • ROM 8:22 For we know that the whole creation • groaneth and travaileth in pain together • until now. (KJV)

27. JUSTICE DEMANDS PAYMENT • THE NOW DISOBEDIENT MAN AND WOMAN AND ALL THEIR PROGENY ‘AFTER THEIR KIND’, WERE TAINTED BY SIN. • THAT SIN CAUSED SEPARATION FROM GOD. • THE ‘WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH’ (ETERNAL SEPARATION FROM GOD) • THE ONLY WAY A MAN CAN BE JUSTIFIED IS TO DIE IN PAYMENT FOR AND AS A RESULT OF HIS OWN PERSONAL SIN. • IF A MAN DIES FOR HIS SIN, HE DIES IN HIS SIN. • GOD’S JUSTICE DEMANDED THAT THE PENALTY OF SIN BE PAID. • GOD’S HOLINESS COULD NOT IGNORE SIN OR ITS CONSEQUENCES • MANS SIN REQUIRED THAT MAN PAY THE PRICE OF GOD’S JUSTICE • A WAY OF EXACTING GOD’S JUSTICE FOR SIN NEEDED TO BE FOUND THAT DIDN’T RESULT IN THE DEATH OF THE SINNER. • A MAN - A MEDIATOR - WITHOUT SIN - NEEDED TO BE FOUND • WHO WAS WILLING TO DIE IN SINFUL MAN’S PLACE.

28. GOD HAS A PLAN • GOD IMMEDIATELY INITIATED A PLAN TO USE MAN TO DEAL WITH AND DEFEAT SATAN AND SIN ONCE AND FOR ALL. • ALL THE WHILE GOD WOULD BE ESTABLISHING A WAY, FOR THOSE WILLING TO TAKE IT, TO ENJOY NEW RE-ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD FOR ETERNITY. • Gen 3:14-15 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (KJV) • GOD'S PLAN FOR DEALING WITH SIN, SATAN AND MAN'S REDEMPTION BEGINS. • GOD BEGINS TO ESTABLISH A MEDIATORIAL KINGDOM; THE SOVEREIGN RULE OF GOD THROUGH HIS DIVINELY CHOSEN EARTHLY REPRESENTATIVE.

29. MEDIATOR • THE WORD 'MEDIATOR' IS NOT FOUND • IN THE OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES. • THE OLD TESTAMENT USES "DAYSMAN" MEANING ARBITRATOR OR UMPIRE SINCE THERE WAS NO MAN WORTHY OF BEING A MEDIATOR BEFORE GOD FOR MAN. • DAYSMAN Strong's # 3198 yakach (yaw‑kahh'); • A primitive root; to be right (i.e. correct); reciprocal, to argue; causatively, to decide, justify or convict: • ‑appoint, argue, chasten, convince, correct (‑ion), daysman, dispute, judge, maintain, plead, reason (together), rebuke, reprove (‑r), surely, in any wise. Yekiyleyah. See 3203. (DIC) • JOB 9:33 Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both. (KJV)

30. 3 ASPECTS OF MEDIATORS • MEDIATION WITH GOD HAS 3 ASPECTS: • PROPHET – God’s mediator to the people • PRIEST – People’s mediator with God AND • THEOCRATIC KING – God’s ruler. • GOD'S MEDIATORS HELD ALL THREE OFFICES (OR AT LEAST ALL THREE OFFICES WERE PRESENT, EVEN IF SPREAD AMONG DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS).

31. THEOCRACY • THEOCRACY: • NO MATTER WHAT OR WHO THE MEDIATOR IS, • GOD RULES SOLELY. • THE MEDIATOR IS MERELY GOD'S AGENT. • IT IS THE GOVERNMENT AND DIRECTION OF GOD EXERCISED THROUGH A DIVINELY CHOSEN REPRESENTATIVE TO RULE, ACT AND SPEAK FOR GOD ON EARTH. • WHILE NOT A BIBLICAL WORD • IT IS AN ABSOLUTE CONCEPT IN SCRIPTURE

32. HELP WANTED: MEDIATOR • FOR THE TIME IMMEDIATELY AFTER ADAM'S FALL, THERE WAS NO MEDIATOR. • WITHOUT A MEDIATOR OR PROCESS FOR MEDIATION, ADAM'S OFFSPRING WERE LEFT TO THEIR OWN UNRESTRAINED NATURAL IMPULSES AND REASONING • WITH SATAN INVITING THEM TO CHOSE WRONG PATHS.

33. AGE OF CONSCIENCE = 4000-2000 BC • FROM FALLEN ADAM TO THE FLOOD • (3975 BC TO 2318 BC) = AGE OF CONSCIENCE • FROM NOAH TO CALL OF ABRAHAM • (2318 BC TO 1927 BC) = AGE OF HUMAN GOVERNMENT • FROM THE CALL OF ABRAHAM TO MOSES • (1927 BC TO 1462 BC) = AGE OF PROMISE • DATES ARE BASED ON ARCHBISHOP USSHER’S • CHRONOLOGY AND MAY NOT BE ACCURATE

34. AGE OF CONSCIENCE = 4000-2000 BC • CONSCIENCE = MORAL LAW (RIGHT AND WRONG) BY INTUITION • CONSCIENCE WAS AND IS NOT A MEDIATOR BETWEEN MAN AND GOD. • GIVEN A CHOICE CONSCIENCE ALWAYS • DEFENDS ONE WAY AND REJECTS THE OTHER. • THE CHOICE DEFENDED IS NOT ALWAYS (AND IS SELDOM EVER) THE CORRECT CHOICE IN THE ABSENCE OF GOD'S MEDIATOR. • PROV 14:12 ISA 53:6

35. AGE OF CONSCIENCE = 4000-2000 BC • THE AGE OF CONSCIENCE LASTED NEARLY 2000 YEARS UNTIL MAN BECAME SO SEPARATED FROM GOD THAT GOD "REPENTED THAT HE HAD MADE MAN ON THE EARTH". • GEN 6:6 GEN 6:11‑12 • GOD PRONOUNCED JUDGEMENT ON EVIL - DEFERRING IT FOR 120 YEARS - GIVING NOAH TIME TO WORK TO 'SAVE' OTHERS OF HIS TIME AND RACE FROM THE DESTRUCTION TO COME.

36. AGE OF CONSCIENCE = 4000-2000 BC • GOD PROVIDED THOSE WHO SERVED HIM A WAY OF ESCAPE FROM JUDGEMENT. • GEN 6:3 • WHAT NOAH DID OR WHAT IT WAS ABOUT NOAH THAT CAUSED GOD TO SPARE HIM WE DO NOT KNOW FOR CERTAIN. SCRIPTURE DOES SAY THAT ‘NOAH WAS PERFECT IN HIS GENERATIONS’ [Ancestry] IN A VERY CORRUPT, PERVERTED TIME. • 'NOAH FOUND GRACE' IN GOD'S EYES AND GOD DECLARED HIM TO BE RIGHTEOUS. HE AND THOSE WITH HIM (8 IN ALL; HIS WIFE, 3 SONS AND THEIR WIVES) WERE SAVED AND SPARED. • GEN 6:8 GEN 7:1

37. HUMAN GOVERNMENT • UPON LEAVING THE ARK, NOAH AND THOSE WITH HIM WERE GIVEN THE SAME COMMAND AS WAS GIVEN TO ADAM IN THE GARDEN. • THEY ESTABLISHED A GOVERNMENT OVER MANKIND. • THIS WAS A GOVERNMENT RUN BY GOD WORKING THROUGH HUMAN RULERS (REPRESENTATIVES) RESPONSIBLE TO HIM AND ACCOUNTABLE TO HIM. • THIS WAS NO LONGER AN AGE OF CONSCIENCE (EVERYONE DOING RIGHT IN HIS OWN EYES), BUT MAN RULING MEN AS DIRECTED BY GOD. • GEN 9:1‑9

38. HUMAN GOVERNMENT • AS TIME AND THE GENERATIONS PASSED, INDIFFERENCE TO GOD GREW UNTIL MEN FINALLY BEGAN TO REPUDIATE GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY AND ATTEMPTED TO ESTABLISH A CENTRAL ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT WITHOUT THE 'INTERFERENCE' OF GOD'S MORAL SOVEREIGNTY.

39. HUMAN GOVERNMENT • NIMROD (SON OF CUSH, A SON OF HAM, A SON OF NOAH) TRIED TO ESTABLISH HIS RULE OVER ALL THE "KINGDOM'S OF THE WORLD". • THIS WOULD RESULT IN THE FIRST WORLD EMPIRE CENTERED IN BABYLON. • SHINAR = SOUTHERN BABYLONIA = CHALDEA • BABYLON IS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES SOUTH OF BAGHDAD ON OR NEAR THE EUPHRATES RIVER IN MODERN IRAQ. • GEN 10:1‑32 • NOTE: GENESIS 10 INDICATES THE AREAS OF THE EARTH POPULATED BY THE CHILDREN OF NOAH AND THEIR OFFSPRING.

40. THE AGE OF PROMISE • WITH THE SPREAD OF IDOLATRY AND SELF WORSHIP, GOD CHOSE A MAN NAMED ABRAM, TO ESTABLISH A UNIQUE NATION TO BE IDENTIFIED AS GOD'S OWN AND THROUGH WHICH HE WOULD WORK AND REVEAL HIMSELF TO OTHERS. • THEIR PURPOSE WOULD BE TO: • RECEIVE, PROTECT AND PRESERVE REVELATION ROM 3:2 • BRING THE PROMISED REDEEMER • ISA 7:14 MATT 1:1 MATT 1:21 • GIVE TESTIMONY TO THE NATIONS OF THE BLESSING OF SERVING GOD • DEUT 4:5‑8

41. THE AGE OF PROMISE • EVENTUALLY GOD WOULD USE THE NATIONS TO BE A TESTIMONY TO ISRAEL REGARDING THE BLESSINGS OF SERVING GOD • ROMANS 10:19 • RENAMED, ABRAHAM WAS GIVEN MANY PROMISES AND A COVENANT BY GOD: • GEN 12:1‑3 • GEN 13:14‑17 • GEN 17:7‑8 • DEUT 7:6‑8

42. THE AGE OF PROMISE • ABRAHAMIC COVENANT - GEN 12-13 - CONTAINED SEVERAL PROMISES OF GOD: • MAKE OF YOU GREAT NATION (70 INTO EGYPT, 2-4 MILLION OUT) • BLESS THEE, THOU WILT BE A BLESSING • THY SEED WILL BE AS THE DUST OF THE EARTH • YOU WILL BE THE FATHER OF MANY NATIONS (COMPLETED IN CHRIST JESUS) • CANAAN WILL BE TO YOU (AND YOUR POSTERITY) AN EVERLASTING POSSESSION • I WILL BLESS THEM THAT BLESS THEE AND CURSE THEM THAT CURSE THEE • ALL SHALL BE BLESSED IN THEE

43. THE AGE OF PROMISE • SOME COVENANTS AND PROMISES ARE CONDITIONAL; THEY CONTAIN AN 'IF YOU WILL DO THIS THEN I WILL DO THIS...' OTHERS WERE UNCONDITIONAL, GOD SIMPLY SAYING 'I WILL DO THIS'. • THERE HAVE BEEN 4 MAJOR 'UNCONDITIONAL' COVENANTS: • 1) ABRAHAMIC 3) DAVIDIC • 2) PALESTINIAN 4) NEW COVENANT • NOTE: THE MOSAIC COVENANT WAS CONDITIONAL. EXOD 19:3‑6 • NOTE: IN THE CHURCH AGE THE CHURCH BECAME A KINGDOM OF PRIESTS • AND AN HOLY NATION SEPARATED TO GOD. 1 PETER 2:9

44. THE AGE OF PROMISE • UNCONDITIONAL COVENANTS ARE PROMISES FROM GOD THAT HE WILL DO OR PROVIDE SOMETHING NOT BASED ON HUMAN BEHAVIOR OR THE WORKS AND DEEDS OF THE COVENANT PEOPLE BUT BECAUSE GOD SAID HE WOULD DO THEM. THEY CARRY A DIVINE 'I WILL' WITHOUT AN 'AS LONG AS'. • SOMETIMES THE 'UNCONDITIONAL' COVENANT DID CARRY AN INITIAL 'IF YOU'. ONCE THE INITIAL 'IF YOU' WAS ACCOMPLISHED, GOD'S PART OF THE COVENANT (CONTRACT, AGREEMENT) WOULD NOT BE BROKEN - NO MATTER WHAT. GOD WILL DO WHAT HE SAYS AND PROMISES.

45. THE AGE OF PROMISE • IN OTHER CASES GOD MADE COVENANT PROMISES TO INDIVIDUALS (OR NATIONS) THAT WERE CONDITIONED ON THE PEOPLE INVOLVED ALSO DOING SOMETHING. • 'AS LONG AS' THE PEOPLE INVOLVED MET THE CONDITION, THEN GOD'S PORTION OF THE AGREEMENT BECAME UNCONDITIONAL. • IF THEY DID NOT KEEP THE PROVISIONS OF THE AGREEMENT, GOD WAS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO KEEP HIS END OF THE AGREEMENT.

46. THE AGE OF PROMISE • IN GEN 1-11 = GOD'S MEDIATORIAL DEALINGS WERE WITH THE WHOLE OF EARTH'S HUMANITY • GEN 12 ON = GOD'S MEDIATORIAL DEALINGS NARROW TO ONE MAN THEN EXPAND TO ONE FAMILY THEN TO ONE NATION THEN TO EVERY INDIVIDUAL IN THE WORLD AGAIN ONCE A WORTHY MEDIATOR IS RE-ESTABLISHED. • GOD'S DEALINGS HAVE ONE THEME - MAN'S SALVATION LEADING TO ONE GOAL - THE REDEMPTION OF MAN THROUGH THE WORK OF JESUS • JOHN 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that • Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing • ye might have life through his name. (KJV)

47. ISRAEL UNDER LAW = 2000 BC-30 ADMOSES TO JESUS RESURRECTION = (1462 BC TO 29 AD) • DATES ARE APPROXIMATE BASED ON USSHER'S CHRONOLOGY: • BC 1500 MOSES (A.M. 2433-2553) 600 ZEDEKIAH (A.M. ????-????) • 1400 JOSHUA (A.M. 2460-????) 600 JEREMIAH • (A.M. 3375 MINISTRY BEGINS) • 1175 SAMUEL (A.M. 2833-????) 600 NEBUCHADNEZZAR (A.M. ????-3442) • 1100 SAUL (A.M. ????-????) 585 CONIAH (JECONIAH) • (A.M. 3406 THRONE) • 1050 DAVID (A.M. 2919-????) 585 EZEKIEL (A.M. 3409 MINISTRY BEGINS) • 1000 SOLOMON (A.M.2971-3029) 550 DANIEL (A.M. 3398 TO BABYLON) • 850 ELIJAH (A.M. ????-????) 540 BELSHAZZER (A.M. ????-????) • 825 ELISHA (A.M. ????-????) 530 CYRUS (A.M. ????-????) • 700 ISAIAH (A.M. ????-????) 520 ZECHARIAH (A.M.3484 RETURNED • FROM BABYLON)

48. ISRAEL UNDER LAW = 2000 BC-30 AD • IN GOD'S TIME (400 YEARS FROM IT'S ENTERING EGYPT AS PROPHESIED), A DELIVERER IS SENT TO "BRING ISRAEL OUT" OF EGYPT • GOD APPOINTS THE TIME, • THE MEANS AND THE MEDIATOR. • EXOD 3:15 • AT MOUNT SINAI, ISRAEL IS CONSECRATED (SET APART) AND IS ORGANIZED INTO IT'S VARIOUS HOSTS. ISRAEL'S NATIONAL HISTORY BEGINS. • NUM 1:1‑3

49. ISRAEL UNDER LAW = 2000 BC-30 AD • MOSES RULED ISRAEL IN A THEOCRACY. • THEOCRACY: THE GOVERNMENT AND DIRECTION OF GOD EXERCISED THROUGH A DIVINELY CHOSEN REPRESENTATIVE TO RULE, ACT AND SPEAK FOR GOD ON EARTH. • NO MATTER WHAT OR WHO THE MEDIATOR IS, GOD RULES SOLELY. • THE MEDIATOR IS GOD'S AGENT.

50. ISRAEL UNDER LAW = 2000 BC-30 AD • THE MOSAIC COVENANT WAS CONDITIONED ON OBEDIENCE TO GOD'S LAW. • TORAH = THROWING OUT OR POINTING OUT (AS IN POINTING OUT GOD'S WISHES AND LAW.) • EXOD 20-24 • THE PALESTINIAN COVENANT, HOWEVER, WAS A DIVINE GUARANTEE OF CANAAN AS AN EVERLASTING POSSESSION. • GEN 17:7‑11