Freedoms Gate Ministries

Lesson 2

Dispensation of Church

The period between the 69^th week and the 70^th is called the DISPENSATION OF GRACE. Some have called it the DISPENSATION OF CHURCH, because the focus is on the church, but in reality, the focus is on forgiveness. The other reason there is a problem with using the DISPENSATION OF THE CHURCH is that the word church is not used in the correct way. This causes a problem in the Body of Christ and in the world. For the word CHURCH in Greek is EKKLESIA that means "called out of."Yet when the world and even some Christians think of church, it is a building and not the Body of Christ that is growing daily. That is why I prefer the dispensation of grace, because the focus is on grace that comes from God and not on the church (Ephesians 3:1-12).

There are seven dispensations:

INNOCENCE ended when mankind was expelled from the Garden
CONSCIENCE ended with the flood
HUMAN GOVERNMENT ended with the tower of Babel
PROMISE ended with the Exodus from Egypt
LAW ended with the crucifixion of Jesus
GRACE ends with the Rapture
KINGDOM: there is NO end

We are now ready to study this period closely for it will reveal the warning signs of the coming rapture (the home-going of the called out ones, the 'church'). Let us go to Matthew 24. In verse 2, Jesus makes a statement. Has this happened yet? If so when did it take place? From verses 4 through 15, we see things that will come to be before the rapture which is found in I Thessalonians 4:13-18.

What will be said about Jesus?
What will be going on in the world?
How will the world feel about Christians?
How will people treat Christians?
Will there be people who call themselves Christians in order to find the true Christians?
What will they do to the true Christians?
What will be the effect of this on some Christians?
Will this mark the beginning of the rapture? On the other hand, will something else have to occur first?