This lesson will cover these dispensations of time that the Lord has determined for this world. We will look at a brief overview of each one here and then look at them in more detail as we progress through this study. A dispensation is a definite period of time during which the Lord reveals truth about Himself, and His will for mankind. These revelations of truth are always progressive and compulsory. The Lord's will for our lives is not optional and so each dispensation ends with judgment upon those who have forsaken Him and His ways.
Great care is required when studying dispensational issues.
Be certain to understand scriptures according to the dispensation that was in force at the time. For example, although the majority of the New Testament was written during and about the dispensation of Grace, the Gospels are actually concerning the end of the dispensation of Law. Disregard of dispensations has caused may incorrect understandings to be arrived at by well-meaning Christians. The first dispensation was that of the Age of Innocence. This is the time when the Lord created the first members of mankind, Adam and Eve.