The Seven Dispensations: Man's Failure & God's Grace (Part 7 of 7)

Hello Friends!

Welcome back to part seven of The Seven Dispensations: Man's Failure & God's Grace.

 

The Holy Scriptures divide time – the entire period from the creation of Adam and Eve in the book of Genesis to the "new heaven and a new earth" promised to all believers in the book of Revelation – into seven unequal periods, usually titled dispensations (see Ephesians 3:2). These periods are also referred to as “ages” (see Ephesians 2:7). They are also referred to as “days” as in "day of the Lord".

This week we will investigate the seventh Dispensation known as KINGDOM…

The Seven Dispensations: #7 – Man in the Kingdom

KINGDOM

After the purifying judgments (The Great Tribulation) which attend the personal return of Jesus Christ to the earth, He will reign over restored Israel and over the earth for one thousand years. This is the period commonly called "The 1000 Year Millennial Kingdom". The seat of His power will be Jerusalem. The saints, including the saved of the dispensation of grace, namely the church, will be associated with Him in His glory (see Isaiah 2:1-4, Isaiah 11, Acts 15:14-17, Revelation 19:11-21 & Revelation 20:1-6).

But when Satan is "loosed for a little season", he finds the natural heart as prone to evil as ever, and easily gathers the nations to battle against the Lord and His saints. This last dispensation closes, like all the others, in judgment. The Great White Throne Judgment is set and the wicked dead are raised and finally judged. And then come the "New Heaven and a New Earth". Eternity is begun (see Revelation 20:3,7-15, 2 Peter 3:10-14, Revelation 21 & 22).

Summary Principle:

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this – Isaiah 9:6-7

Opening Event – Jesus Christ returns to earth as King of kings and Lord of lords: 

When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world – Matthew 25:31-34

And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years – Revelation 20:4-6

Man’s Responsibility – Believe & Obey:

The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore – Isaiah 2:1-4

There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. His delight is in the fear of the Lord, and He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, nor decide by the hearing of His ears; but with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, and faithfulness the belt of His waist. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, who shall stand as a banner to the people; for the Gentiles shall seek Him, and His resting place shall be glorious. It shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people who are left, from Assyria and Egypt, from Pathros and Cush, from Elam and Shinar, from Hamath and the islands of the sea. He will set up a banner for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. Also the envy of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off; Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not harass Ephraim. But they shall fly down upon the shoulder of the Philistines toward the west; together they shall plunder the people of the East; they shall lay their hand on Edom and Moab; and the people of Ammon shall obey them. The Lord will utterly destroy the tongue of the Sea of Egypt; with His mighty wind He will shake His fist over the River, and strike it in the seven streams, and make men cross over dry-shod. There will be a highway for the remnant of His people who will be left from Assyria, as it was for Israel in the day that he came up from the land of Egypt – Isaiah 11:1-16

And in that day you will say: “O Lord, I will praise You; though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me. Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’” Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And in that day you will say: “Praise the Lord, call upon His name; declare His deeds among the peoples, make mention that His name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, for He has done excellent things; this is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst!” – Isaiah 12:1-6

Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy. Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you—The sure mercies of David – Isaiah 55:1-3

And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, on them there will be no rain. If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the Lord strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles – Zechariah 14:16-18

Man’s Failure & Man’s Tendency ~ Even in the age of Righteousness, man turns away from Christ to follow Satan when given the opportunity:

Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever – Revelation 20:7-10

Closing Event – Judgment:

~ The final rebellion is crushed and eternal destinies are decreed

The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire – Revelation 20:10-15

Personal Salvation – By Grace through Faith:

But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life – Revelation 21:22-27

CLOSING THOUGHTS:

During the Millennial Kingdom, the disorder of previous ages is fully corrected:

Innocence - God's truth is known by all men (see Jeremiah 31:34).

Conscience - God's people have holy hearts to serve Him (see Jeremiah 31:33).
Government - Jesus Christ rules from Jerusalem and His Righteousness covers the earth.
Promise - Israel is back in her land. Abrahamic & Davidic covenants are fulfilled.
Law - True temple worship declares that Christ has fulfilled the Law.
Grace - The true church is with Christ in His glory.

Thank you for reading! It is our hope that you now have a better understanding of God’s time-table of events as discovered throughout the Holy Scriptures.

May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to bless you with His perfect love, mercy and grace!

Keep looking up and sharing the Gospel while there is still time… Hallelujah and Maranatha – come quickly Lord Jesus!

Blessings!

Shane <><

Like Luminous Lightning

Do you like to watch lightning? One of my roommates did. She also thought I liked to watch storms because the day she moved in she arrived to find me standing on my front porch in the middle of a bad storm. She soon found out I wasn’t there to watch the bad the storm, but had gone outside to move some plants before the storm hit and had accidentally locked myself out of the house! 

For those of us in Michigan, you may have seen some amazing lightning last night. Christ’s return will be like lightning, but far more amazing and glorious. It will be sudden, but it will be evident to all.

Matthew 24:23-27      ²³ At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. ²⁴ For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. ²⁵ See, I have told you ahead of time. ²⁶ “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. ²⁷ For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Jesus’ first coming was quiet. He came as a baby and it wasn’t visible to all. However, He has given us clear details that His second coming will not be a secret. We won’t miss it!

If someone were to tell you that Christ had already returned to earth, what would you say?

Jesus gave us enough details in the Bible so that we won’t be deceived and are prepared for His return. How well do you and I know what He told us? Matthew chapters 24 and 25 have many details about His glorious “like lightning” return!

Keep the Body Running Smoothly

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. Ephesians 4

The body concept is found in many places throughout the Bible.  We are all the body of Christ, and Christ is the head of that body.  Because we are all of one body, we must act in unison, and specifically as it says in these verses, we must put off falsehood, speak truthfully, avoid sinning in anger, and do not stay angry at someone.

When we do not act in unison, it sends mixed signals to those that are aware of the church, but unaware of Jesus.  They question our faith because of our fighting among us.  Think of your own body.  I am unable to read in the car due to motion sickness.  I even have a hard time if my husband's driving and he asks me to send a text on his phone.  My body feels the weight and motion of the car, my equilibrium is telling me that we're moving, yet my eyes are looking at something still and saying, "Nah, we're sitting still, you fool!" That fighting leads my stomach to say, "I don't know what to do!" and it panics and I feel queasy.  Due to all the mixed signals (Yes, No, PANIC!) my whole body is left in turmoil.

The same thing happens among the body of Christ.  When we start to lie to one another or even get angry at each other within the body due to someone else's actions, we cause divisions among each other, panic among those who try to be peacemakers, and the whole body is in turmoil.  This gives the devil a foothold on the body, and allows him to find other ways to wrench us apart.

We are called to always speak truthfully, but it is vitally important that we maintain this honesty within the body of Christ.  We can certainly have our disagreements, but we must see that we all need to work towards one goal - spreading Christ's love.

Humbled to Serve

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.  Phillipians 2:3-4 

Anyone who knows me knows that I love sports.  Many times it is the brilliance and level of excellence that is far beyond our own ability to be as great.  However, those are not the most memorable moments for me.  Instead, it’s the moments where a person accomplishes their greatest feat, and yet is both grounded by their faith and humbled by the blessings an almighty God had given them.  Yesterday, an athlete did just that, and displayed amazing love and humility.  It was a reminder to me that no matter how we got here, none of us makes it alone.  

As fellow Christians, we must be humble never to forget that we were given so much by God to make it to where we are today.  Some marvel at their own gifts and see it as a right.  Others look at themselves and see it as something they were able to create all alone.  The reality is that we all are given the gift of life from an almighty God who blesses us with situations, abilities, talents, and love to endure, grow, share, and fellowship with others.  None of it is ours to own or claim.  It is God’s for  us to give thanks and the glory to.  Our love for him should not be contingent on what or how many gifts we were given.  It is given with a humble understanding that He would deem us worthy enough to give us grace when we have done nothing to deserve it.

Loving God is about giving what He has blessed us with to create greater glory toward building His Kingdom.  As the parable of the Talents (Gold in the NIV version) bears out (Matthew 25:14-28), God will give more to those who share what He has given them.  Jesus of course gave His life for our sins, but He was also humble enough to serve those who would call Him master and Lord of all.  Why?  Because He, the greatest leader of all, set the example for His followers.  Where could you stand to find greater humility?  What blessings today are you thankful to God for?  My prayer is that whether triumphant or just blessed to live another day, we are humbled to serve an awesome and almighty God.  Amen.  

P.S.  If you want to watch the video (make sure to have tissues handy :) ), here it is:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehlBKRqPveQ

Tues Devo: Response to Faithfulness

Psalm 94:14-16 “For the Lord will not abandon His people, Nor will He forsake His inheritance. For judgment will again be righteous, And all the upright in heart will follow it. Who will stand up for me against evildoers? Who will take his stand for me against those who do wickedness?” (NASB)

Hello,

The faithfulness of God is an amazing thing. Despite our shortcomings and failures, He is right there fulfilling His promises. What is our response to be? The obvious answer is the right one – to follow and obey God with as much faithfulness as we can.

Easy? Nope. Going to get harder? Yup.

As I was reading the end of this section I started focusing on the psalmist working to rally support and to stand up against wickedness with other people…then it struck me. He wasn’t looking to get others together and then stand up against wickedness with him. He realized that he wasn’t capable of that. His role was to trust and obey God – and it was God who will stand up against the evildoers, God who will bring judgment to those who have oppressed His followers…our job is just to follow. The chapter concludes as such:

Psalm 94:22-23 “But the Lord has been my stronghold, And my God the rock of my refuge. He has brought back their wickedness upon them And will destroy them in their evil; The Lord our God will destroy them”(NASB)

Keep following God in response to His faithfulness – He wins in the end!

Have a blessed day,

Will Hill

The Seven Dispensations: Man's Failure & God's Grace (Part 6 of 7)

Hello Friends!

Welcome back to part six of The Seven Dispensations: Man's Failure & God's Grace. 

 

The Holy Scriptures divide time – the entire period from the creation of Adam and Eve in the book of Genesis to the "new heaven and a new earth" promised to all believers in the book of Revelation – into seven unequal periods, usually titled dispensations (see Ephesians 3:2). These periods are also referred to as “ages” (see Ephesians 2:7). They are also referred to as “days” as in "day of the Lord".

This week we will investigate the sixth Dispensation – in which we live under today – known as GRACE…

The Seven Dispensations: #6 – Man Under Grace

GRACE

The sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus Christ introduced the dispensation of pure grace, which means undeserved favor, or God giving righteousness, rather than God requiring righteousness, as under the law. Salvation – perfect and eternal – is now freely offered to Jew and Gentile by faith in Jesus Christ alone whereby acknowledging personal sin through repentance.

Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent – John 6:29

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life... – John 6:47

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life – John 5:24

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand – John 10:27-28

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast – Ephesians 2:8-9

The predicted result of this testing of man under grace is judgment upon an unbelieving world and an apostate church (see Luke 17:26-30, Luke 18:8, 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12 & Revelation 3:15-16).

The first event in the closing of this dispensation will be the descent of the Lord from heaven, when sleeping saints will be raised and, together with believers then living, caught up "to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" – 1 Thessalonians 4:17

Then follows the brief period called "the great tribulation" (see Jeremiah 30:5-7, Daniel 12:1, Zephaniah 1:15-18 & Matthew 24:21-22).

After this time of tribulation, the personal and physical return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth in power and great glory occurs, and the judgments which introduce the seventh, and last dispensation known as the Millennial Kingdom (see Matthew 25:31-46 & Matthew 24:29-30).

Summary Principle: 

For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ – John 1:17

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works – Titus 2:11-14

Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into – 1 Peter 1:10-12

Opening Event – Jesus Christ ascends to Heaven: 

~ Sends the Holy Spirit

The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,  until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight – Acts 1:1-9

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance – Acts 2:1-4

~ Establishes His Church

For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit – 1 Corinthians 12:12-13

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places – Ephesians 3:1-10

Man’s Responsibility – Believe & Obey:

~ For eternal life

Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved – Acts 2:36-47

Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent – John 6:28-29

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life – John 6:47

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life – John 5:24

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God – Romans 5:1-2

 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes – Romans 10:4

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast – Ephesians 2:8-9

~ For earthly living

For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? – Romans 8:24

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me – Galatians 2:20

This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? – Galatians 3:2-3

Man’s Failure – Apostasy:

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables – 2 Timothy 4:3-4

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned – Hebrews 6:4-8

Man’s Tendency – Away from God:

But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived – 2 Timothy 3:13

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber – 2 Peter 2:1-3

These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire” –  2 Peter 2:17-22

Closing Event – The Bride of Jesus Christ caught up to meet Him in the air:

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord – 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth – Revelation 3:10

~ Judgment: The apostate church enters the Tribulation

And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works – Revelation 2:21-23

I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth – Revelation 3:15-16

Personal Salvation – By Grace through Faith:

knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God – 1 Peter 1:18-21

Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgressions of My people He was stricken. And they made His grave with the wicked—But with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors – Isaiah 53

Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus – Romans 3:20-26

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord – Romans 6:23

(Also refer to references under “Man’s Responsibility” noted above)

Thank you for reading! Don’t miss next week’s edition as we investigate Dispensation #7 – KINGDOM…

May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to bless you with His perfect love, mercy and grace!

Keep looking up and sharing the Gospel while there is still time… Hallelujah and Maranatha – come quickly Lord Jesus!

Blessings!

Shane <><