The dispensation which follows the Dispensation of God’s Grace will be a
dispensation of Divine Government. Ever since He suspended His work with
Israel, at the end of the Book of Acts, His present method of dealing is
entirely by means of grace, and nothing, but grace, enters into his
dealings with the world and His own. This limits the activities and
works of Him at this present time, but it is a self-imposed limitation.
It will result in a full demonstration of the graciousness of His
character; a demonstration that will stand as a witness throughout the
ages to come (Ephesians 2). While grace is all that the Lord is
dispensing today, it is not all He can do, or will do. His resources are
unlimited. In the coming dispensation, He will bring all of His
resources to bear in His relationship and dealings with man.
We cannot fully comprehend all that He can and will do when the Kingdom
comes. It is really beyond our comprehension. If we take a close look at
what the coming dispensation will bring, we are struck with the fact
that it will result in a world in which we cannot really relate to. It
will be such a different heaven and earth than we now know.
We can only imagine what it will be like when the curse is removed, and
when the human race no longer has death working in them. The Kingdom of
God could truly be referred to as the Dispensation of Life. The chief
characteristic will be Life. Jesus said, “I am come that they might
have life, and that they
might have it more abundantly”
(John 10:10).
Today, Pentecostal preachers thunder out that believers can have the
“abundant life,” now, by following their directions on sowing seed
(money) to their ministries. These “peddlers” are referred to as
“Prosperity Preachers.” The abundant life that Jesus Christ spoke about
is to be enjoyed in resurrection. Death has reigned from Adam until now.
But, when the heavens rule Life will reign. Babies will not be born,
dying, as they are today. They will be born with life working in them.
It will be an age in which man is totally responsible for his own
actions. Every transgression and disobedience will receive a just
recompense of reward. No longer can someone blame the society for their
transgressions.
In the coming dispensation, men shall not live by bread alone; but by
every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. His speech and that of
the heavens (heavenly host) will be gently broadcasting throughout the
earth day unto day and night unto night.
As it was pointed out in a previous study, when David penned the 19th
Psalm, he wrote as if he were present when these things will transpire.
“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his
handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth
knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where
their voice is not heard. Their
line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of
the world” (Psalm 19:1-4).
Their “voice” and their “words” go out to the “ends of the world.” If
this be true, and we’re convinced that this prophecy will be sure and
certain—there will be no need for man to have in his hands the written
Word of God. This statement, we’re sure, will cause some to have a
“knee-jerk” reaction, insisting that the Bible will stand forever.
“For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in
heaven” (Psalm 119:89)
“Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands
firm in the heavens” (Psalm 119:89; NIV).
Everything individuals, families, tribes, and nations need to know under
the Divine Administration will be spoken from heaven.
“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind,
and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they
shall be to me a people: And they shall not
teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know
the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest”
(Hebrews 8:10-11).
This knowledge is not acquired by reading and studying the Bible but by
direct revelation from God.
During the Kingdom of God, as the heavens rule the earth, prayer is
answered so speedily that it can be said, “And it shall come to pass,
that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I
will hear” (Isaiah 65:24). In plainer words, prayer will be answered
before the prayer is even offered up. Instant answer to prayer!
How can this be possible? Nothing is impossible for the Lord. Paul
alludes to this in Romans 8:26-27, “ …for we know not what we should
pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us
with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts
knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession
for the saints according to the will of God.”
While that was true for the Acts period, it will be even more profound
during the eon to come. The “Acts of the Apostles” covered a time-frame
in which believers had a foretaste of the coming Kingdom of God. They
had tasted the heavenly gift, and the good Word of God, and the powers
(i.e. the miraculous power) of the age to come (Hebrews 6:4-5).
Men will not have to search out the will of God during the times the
heavens rule. They will be instructed in which way they should go. There
will be Divine direction.
“And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way,
walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the
left” (Isaiah 30:21).
If they follow the Divine instructions, it means they will “walk after
the Spirit” and not after the flesh (Romans 8:1, 4). If they walk
contrariwise to the Divine direction, it can result in death due to
their own disobedience.
“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is
life and peace” (Romans 8:6).
This life and death principle was at work among believers during the
Acts period to a certain extent, but it will be in full force for all
men when God administers His Government from His heavenly Throne
(Ezekiel 18:4, Jeremiah 31:30, 1 John 5:16). The Apostle Paul referred
to this principle in Romans 8:2, as being at work during Acts; “For
the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made
me free from the law of sin and death.”
Acts was a microcosm of what the coming Kingdom will be like when it is
fully manifested in the earth.
Throughout the greater part of the Kingdom Administration, the Heavens
will speak to men, individually, and they will also speak to families,
tribes, and nations. In Matthew 13:19-23, the speech uttered to men from
the heavens is referred to as “the word of the Kingdom.” We’ll select
one example from Matthew 13:19-23 for your consideration (the student
should study the other verses).
“When any one [living under the rule of Christ] heareth the
word of the kingdom, and
understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that
which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way
side” (Matthew 13:19).
The “word of the Kingdom” is the message delivered from the Heavens [the
Heavenly hosts] through the radio waves of outer space and falls upon
the ears of men. Whatever the context of the message is, it is heard by
mankind. During the Kingdom of God, notice that Satan is active. If the
Kingdom of God is the 1000 year reign of Christ on earth, then Satan
would be chained in the “bottomless pit.” During the millennium, he is
unable to deceive men. Towards the end of the millennium, he will “be
loosed for a little season” and will go about deceiving men and nations.
Being fully persuaded that as a member of the Church over which Christ
Jesus is the Head, we will be a witness to the marvelous events which
will transpire as a result of the blazing forth of the glory of the
Kingdom of God (Titus 2:13, 1 Timothy 6:14, 2 Timothy 4:1).