OK, fair enough. But there is not anything to suggest the division of time into many distinct "dispensations". All Ephesians is affirming is that when Christ came into the world everything changed as far as heaven and earth being one kingdom under the Kingship of Jesus. Paul was a herald of this new kingdom reality, and an administered of the gospel message.
in regard to the dispensation (ECONOMY) of the fulness of the times, to bring into one the whole in the Christ, both the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth -- in him;Christians properly speak of BC and AD. Those are the only "dispensations" known in the Bible. Before Christ came most of the world lived in utter darkness. The gospel was not found anywhere outside of a small insignificant nation of people living in the middle east. Today, the gospel has gone out into all the world. People from every nation, tribe, and tongue worship before the true God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Ironically, one of the most closed and hardened societies to this good news is that nation which claims the covenant name of "Israel". What was once the light of the gentiles now lies in darkness. Only as more and more gentiles nations are converted to Christ will jealousy provoke that ancient people of faith in the Messiah of Israel.
All this will be accomplished without some great apocalyptic tribulation ala the futurist fantasy. Faithful gospel preaching and spiritual worship is what is required to bring men to God. "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."
I think the division of time is a natural thing that historians do. They talk about Reformation Europe as opposed to Medieval Europe.
I think there are some clear Religious History divisions that present themselves.
Pre-history is one. Creation week is another. Eden is another. Ante-diluvian is another. Abrahamic Covenant is another. Christian era. World to come 1=millennium and World to Come 2: New heavens and earth.
A review of a biblical history would probably break its instruction into distinct eras.....economies.
In regard to the dispensation (ECONOMY) of the fulness of the times, to bring into one the whole in the Christ, both the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth -- in him;
Christians properly speak of BC and AD. Those are the only "dispensations" known in the Bible. Before Christ came most of the world lived in utter darkness. The gospel was not found anywhere outside of a small insignificant nation of people living in the middle east. Today, the gospel has gone out into all the world. People from every nation, tribe, and tongue worship before the true God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Ironically, one of the most closed and hardened societies to this good news is that nation which claims the covenant name of "Israel". What was once the light of the gentiles now lies in darkness. Only as more and more gentiles nations are converted to Christ will jealousy provoke that ancient people of faith in the Messiah of Israel.
All this will be accomplished without some great apocalyptic tribulation ala the futurist fantasy. Faithful gospel preaching and spiritual worship is what is required to bring men to God. "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."
AMEN! There is more Scriptural truth in those few paragraphs than all the dispensational time-markings combined.
B.C./A.D.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry... Do thy diligence to come before winter..." -- 2 Timothy 4:2-5;2"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
Again, Ann Coulter is right.