Rev. #76~21:1-8 ACCORDING TO THE 7 DISPENSATIONS, WE’RE CLOSE 10-23-19
Listen as I read our text for today; Rev..21:1-8
1And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.** (1st and last letters of the Greek alphabet, He is the Creator, the Redeemer, and the Final Judge of all things.) I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.**( John 4:)
7He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers,**(drugs as well as witchcraft) and idolaters,** (people that worship objects and fictitious gods) and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
-----------------------------------------------------
Here, in the New Jerusalem, we have something totally unique: a sinless, pure, community of righteousness, a holy city.
Problems arise when believers expect this kind of community now, or fail to realize that it only comes down out of heaven. This city is not, and never can be, the achievement of man, but only a gift from God.
The beauty of the city that John describes is more than a mere object of affection, but is in fact the abode of Jesus Christ and His wife, the True Church, all that are saved.
The holy city, New Jerusalem:-- it is different from any earthly city, It is significant that this glorious dwelling place of God and His people is described as the holy city. Cities are places where there are many people, and people interact with each other. This isn’t isolation, but a perfect community of the people of God.
To us Christians we think of this heavenly city as a place of life, activity, interesting things, and people –
--------------------------------
4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Ø and there shall be no more death
In just these past few minutes that you and I have been reading and studying together there have been thousands of people to die the world over, there’s many that are crying right now because of broken hearts that their loved one is gone, there’ll be many funerals to take place today across our land.
The hospitals are full of sick people and many of them are in great pain and agony. Many of our cemeteries are just about filled to capacity and I suppose some are.
But in that wonderful place that we’re talking about, the undertaker will be out of business, the only doctors and undertakers that will be there will be the saved ones
I tell you dear heart there is a great day on the way for you and I who are saved, these troubles and trials we all face from day to day is soon to be a thing of the past, listen brothers and sisters in Christ, never lose hope and let us stop our fretting because Jesus could call us away at any moment of any day now, this thing is just about over with, the best is just ahead for all that are saved.
Ø Listen I want to tell you why that I think the rapture of the Church could take place just any time now, I talk about this from time to time because it needs to be heard.
Some of you know what I’m about to say but I’m sure some do not; because hopefully we get new Christians all the time that are listening.
Listen==7 is God’s number for perfection & completion, there are 7 dispensations of time.
A great number of people really don’t know very much about the 7 dispensations of God, I want to take time to point these out as their very important, and this will help us to understand how close the rapture must surely be.
-------------------
Ø What is a (dispensation?) it is a particular period of time that God deals with man in a certain manner,
The Scriptures divide time (by which is meant the entire period from the creation of Adam to the "new heaven and a new earth" of Rev. 21:) into seven unequal periods, usually called dispensations, often thought of also as “ages”.
These periods, (dispensations) are marked off in Scripture by some change in God’s method of dealing with mankind in respect of two questions: of sin, and of man’s responsibility.
Each of the dispensations may be regarded as a new test of the natural man,** (not saved) and each dispensation ends in judgment, because of mans failure in every dispensation.
Five of these dispensations, or periods of time, have been fulfilled; never to return, we are today living in the sixth one, {the grace dispensation} and have been ever since the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth.
John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. ***
And I’m of the opinion that we’re surely nearing the end of this dispensation of grace, this is year 2010 on the “Gregorian calendar” we go by, so this period (dispensation) has been going on for over 2000 years, the 7th and final dispensation is the dispensation of the Kingdom, and it can not start until King Jesus is here.
------------------------------------------
Ø The names of the 7 dispensations are:
INNOCENTS, CONSCIOUS, HUMAN GOVERNMENT, PROMISE, LAW, GRACE and KINGDOM.
Listen and I will give you and easy way to remember the 7 dispensations.
Always think of this little saying;
I CAN HELP PEOPLE LOVE GODS KINGDOM. Notice the 1st letter in each word of that little saying and you’ll remember the 7 dispensations.
I CAN HELP PEOPLE LOVE GODS KINGDOM
= INNOCENTS, CONSCIOUS, HUMAN GOVERNMENT, PROMISE, LAW, GRACE and KINGDOM.=
# 1-innocents:
This dispensation extends from the creation of Adam in Genesis 2:7 to the expulsion from Eden. Adam who was created innocent and ignorant of good and evil, was placed in the Garden of Eden with his wife, Eve, and was made responsible to abstain from the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. That was all he was told not to do, that was Gods LAW to Adam.
Genesis 2:16-17 And the LORD God commanded the man,**(not requested of man but commanded Adam) saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
That was all that Adam was required to do. Notice, God didn’t command Eve, because Eve was not yet made from Adams rib.
GEN.2:21-22. 21And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
NOTICE: Adam was “formed” and Eve was “made”
Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Ø God also formed every living creature from the ground; 2:19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air---
--------------------
Adam later told his wife Eve what God had said, that’s one reason she was confused as to exactly the “words” God had commanded Adam as Satan was dealing with her in, and it’s possible that Adam didn’t tell Eve exactly what God had said.
Genesis 3:1-5 1Now 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? (Causing Eve to doubt God’s word)
2And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3But 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, ( God didn’t say anything about touching it) lest ye die. 4And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5For 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.
But Adam could have stopped her as he was there with her.
Genesis 3:6- she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her;- its seems that neither one of them fully understood how important it was to do what God commanded, and nothing has really changed has it dear heart, we take to lightly what He tells us in His Word.
Romans 6:23 is still in the Bible- For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
We’re not sinners because we sin, instead we sin because we’re sinners, we inherited sin from the parents of the entire human race, Adam and Eve.
Genesis 3:20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.
So the dispensation of innocence resulted in the first failure of man, and in its far-reaching effects on the entire human race, it closed in judgment: Gen. 1:26 So He drove out the man."
------------------------------------------------
# 2~ the dispensation of CONSCIOUS:
By the fall, Adam and Eve became sinners and transmitted to the Human race the knowledge of good and evil.
This gave our conscience bases for right moral judgment, and therefore the human race came under this measure of responsibility-to do good and shun evil.
The result of the dispensation of conscience, from Eden to the flood was, as were told in Gen. 6:5,11-13; --5 "all flesh had corrupted his way on the earth," that "the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually," -----
11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
And God closed the second testing (2nd dispensation) of the natural man (unsaved) with judgment: He sent the flood.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# 3-Human Government—That is, Man in authority over the earth
Out of the fearful and destroying judgment of the flood, God saved eight persons, {“8” THE NUMBER OF NEW BEGINNING} “NOAH-MRS NOAH, AND THEIR 3 SONS,” HAM, SHEM AND JAPHETH” AND THEIR 3 WIVES.
So after the waters were abated, He gave the purified earth, along with the authority to govern it.
So now, Noah and his descendants were responsible to govern. The dispensation of human government resulted in a futile attempt to become independent of God there on the plain of Shinar, as man tried to build a tower into heaven, you can read it in--
(Gen. 9: - Gen. 11:1-8] so the 3rd dispensation closed in judgment: and the confusion of tongues.
----------------------------------------------------------
# The 4th dispensation is’ Man under promise—DISPENSATION of PROMISE:
Out of the dispersed descendants of the builders of the tower of Babel who went in different parts of the known world of that time with their different languishes, {by the way, that is why we have different languishes around the world today}
God called one man, Abram, with whom He enters into covenant. Some of the promises to Abram and his descendants were purely gracious and unconditional. These either have been or will yet be literally fulfilled.
Other promises were conditional upon the faithfulness and obedience of the Israelites. Every one of these conditions was violated, and the dispensation of promise resulted in the failure of Israel and closed in the judgment of bondage in Egypt.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# 5th dispensation~ Man under law---THE DISPENSATION OF LAW:
Again the grace of God came to the aid of helpless man and redeemed the chosen people Israel out of the hand of the oppressor, Pharaoh of Egypt.
In the wilderness of Sinai He presented to them the covenant of law.** Instead of humbly pleading for a continued relation of grace, they presumptuously answered:
Exodus 19:8 All that the Lord hath spoken we will do." Notice the law required do-do-do and don’t-don’t- don’t. --And Israel or no body else could keep all of Gods laws. And if one of His laws were broken they were guilty of breaking them all.
James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
I don’t know about you, but if we were under Gods law today I’m sure I would have been dead along time ago, maybe stoned to death, thank God that we’re under Grace.
Listen how Israel put them selves under Gods Law, never minding what the consequences might be.
We find God talking to Moses, as Moses was the people’s mediator at that time, God, you could say was laying the “law” down to Moses.
Ø God instructs Moses to relay His message, and here it is:
EXOD. 19: 5-8 Now therefore, {if} ye will obey my voice indeed, **and keep my covenant, {then}* ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
6 And ye shall be** unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.
These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
7 And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, (leaders) and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD {commanded him.} **
8 And all the people answered together,** and said, All that the LORD hath spoken {we will do.}**
Ø NOTICE, the position the Israelites have put themselves in with God, And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD. Notice, Moses mediates.
Ø Solomon tells us in
Ecclesiastes 5:4-6 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. 5Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. 6Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin;--
Listen, and I say this with utmost respect; Lets never promise God anything because something may happen that might cause us to not be able to keep our promise, and again I’m not trying to be disrespectful to God in any way.
So; after multiplied warnings, God closed the testing of man by law (5th dispensation) in judgment: first Israel, and then Judah, were driven out of the land into a dispersion which still continues today to some degree any way.
The history of Israel in the wilderness and in the land is one long record of flagrant, persistent violation.
A remnant returned under Ezra and Nehemiah, of which, in due time, Christ came: "Born of a woman-made under the law."
Galatians 4:4-5 But when {the fulness of the time}** was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Ø Both Jews and Gentiles were guilty of crucifying Jesus, because He died for all sinners.
-------------------------
# 6th dispensation= Man under grace—THE GRACE DISPENSATION:
The sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus Christ introduced the dispensation of pure grace, which means undeserved favour, or God giving righteousness, instead of God requiring righteousness, as under law.
Salvation, perfect and eternal, is now freely offered to Jew and Gentile alike upon the acknowledgment that the person is a sinner, and then repent, with faith in Jesus Christ as his or her Sacrificial Substitute.
The predicted result of this testing of man under grace is judgment upon an unbelieving world and an apostate church that will be here when the True Church is caught away to meet the Lord in the air.
The first event in the closing of this 6th dispensation will be the descent of the Lord from heaven as He’ll meet His Church in the air. Sleeping saints will be raised** (who are raised from their graves) and together with believers then living, I Thess. 4:16-17). -caught up "to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord"
Then follows the 7-year period called "the tribulation."
Jer. 30:5-7 For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. 6Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? Wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? **(The scoffers and infidels will have smiled and laughed for the last time, all faces turned into paleness) 7Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble;--{ISRAEL}
Matt. 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation; such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Near the end of the 7 years, Jesus returns to the earth, literally, in Rev.19: at what we call Armageddon, He destroys His enemies and all the Jew haters, He then prepares to set up His 1000 year reign, the Millennium.
# 7th dispensation~ THE KINGDOM DISPENSATION:
as King Jesus prepares for His 1000 years reign on this very earth.
