The Dispensational Plan of God from Eternity through Eternity (Eph. 3:11)

Ephesians 3:11 (KJV) 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

1. God in the eternal past (Ps. 90:2; 93:2; Mic. 5:2; Heb. 9:14).

2. The drafting of God's plan (Heb. 1:3; 11:3; Eph. 3:11; 1 Pet. 1:20).3. Creation of the heavens, including the sun, moon, and stars (Gen. 1:1; Col. 1:15-18; Ps. 8:3; 90:2; 95:5; 102:25; Isa. 40:12, 26; 45:12; 48:13).

4. Creation of the spirit world (Job 38:4-7; Col. 1:15-18).5. Creation of the Earth. The Earth made perfect the first time (Gen. 1:1; Job 38:4-7; Isa. 45:18; Heb. 11:3).6. Creation of “the world [kosmos, social order'] that then was” (2 Pet. 3:5-9; Isa. 14:12-14; 45:18; Jer. 4:23-26; Ezek. 28:11-17).

7. Lucifer's reign over “the world that then was” (Isa. 14:12-14; Jer. 4:23-26; Ezek. 28:11-17; Col. 1:15-18). The length of his rule is unknown.8. Other thrones, dominions, principalities and powers placed over other parts of the universe (Col. 1:15-18; Eph. 1:21; 3:10; 1 Pet. 3:22).

9. The kingdom of God universal; God the Supreme Moral Governor of the universe, and all in harmony with Him (Job 38; Dan. 4:17, 25, 32, 35). The length of the rule of the universal harmonious kingdom before Lucifer started his rebellion is unknown.

10. Lucifer, the original ruler of the planet Earth, conceives the idea that he can get the cooperation of other angelic beings of the universe, dethrone God, and become the exalted supreme ruler of the universe (Isa. 14:12-14; Ezek. 28:11-17; 1 Tim. 3:6).

11. Lucifer carries out his plans and through pride falls and incites rebellion by slander and accusations against the Almighty. He causes his own earth-kingdom subjects and over one-third of God's angels (Rev. 12:7-12) to rebel against Him. The Earth enters its first sinful career (Isa. 14:12-14; Ezek. 28:11-17; 1 Tim. 3:6). The length of the uprising is unknown

12. Lucifer instigates rebellion and persuades everyone possible to rebel. He openly breaks relations with God and His government, and leads his rebels from the appointed place of mobilization on Earth into Heaven to dethrone God; but he is met by Michael and the faithful angels, and is defeated and cast as lightning back to the Earth (Isa. 14:12-14; Ezek. 28:11-17; Lk. 10:18).

13. God completely destroys Lucifer's kingdom on Earth, and curses the Earth by destroying every bird, animal, fish, city, inhabitant, and all vegetation. He then turns the Earth upside down and by means of a great flood makes it empty and a waste (Gen. 1:2; Ps. 104:5-9; Isa. 14:12-14; Jer. 4:23-26; Ezek. 28:11-17; 2 Pet. 3:5-9). The length of the pre–Adamite flood on the Earth is unknown.

14. The Spirit of God begins to move upon the flooded Earth and in the darkness which covered the waters to restore the Earth to a habitable state, to create new land animals, fish, fowls, vegetation, and Adam as the new ruler of the Earth (Gen. 1:2; Ps. 104:6-9). Length of the re-creation is six days (Gen. 1:3–2:25; Exod. 20:8-11; 31:15).

15. The Earth is made perfect a second time and all things in the universe are again in harmony with God as before Lucifer's rebellion; except Lucifer and his spirit-rebels are still at large in the heavenlies to further God's plan in the probationary periods of the human race should man fall (Gen. 1:3–2:25; Eph. 2:1-3; 6:10-18; Job 1:6; 2:1; Rev. 12:7-12).

16. THE FIRST PROBATIONARY PERIOD—The Dispensation of Innocence. The length of this period was unknown.(Gen. 2:17–3:24).17. Lucifer (now the devil or adversary of God and man called Satan) enters the restored Earth, tempts man and causes his fall, thus regaining dominion of the Earth and all things therein (Gen. 3; Lk. 4; Jn. 12:31; 2 Cor. 4:4; Rev. 11:15; 20:1-10).

18. Rebellion starts again on the Earth by the second ruler of Earth. Man is judged, the Earth is again cursed and enters its second sinful career, and all creatures are brought under the bondage of sin and corruption (Gen. 3; Rom. 5:12-21; 8:19-23).

19. “The heavens and the earth which are now” since the restoration work of the six days, and since the new curse on the Earth await the time of the second renovation, and the third perfect state of the Earth, called the New Heavens and the New Earth (2 Pet. 3:5-13; Rom. 8:19-23; Heb. 1:10-12; 12:24-28; Rev. 21-22).

20. THE SECOND PROBATIONARY PERIOD—The Dispensation of Conscience (Gen. 3:1–8:14). The length of this period was 1,656 years (Gen. 5:1-29; 7:11).21. THE THIRD PROBATIONARY PERIOD—The Dispensation of Human Government (Gen. 8:15–11:9). The length of this period was 427 years (Gen. 11:10–12:9).

22. THE FOURTH PROBATIONARY PERIOD—The Dispensation of Promise (Gen. 11:10–Exod. 12:51). The length of this period was 430 years (Exod. 12:40; Gal. 4:30).23. THE FIFTH PROBATIONARY PERIOD—The Dispensation of Law (Exod. 13:1–Mt. 4:1; 11:11; Lk. 16:16). The length of this period was over 1,718 years from Moses to Christ.

24. THE SIXTH PROBATIONARY PERIOD—The Dispensation of Grace (Jn. 1:17; Mt. 4:1–Rev. 19:21). The length of this period will be from the First Advent to the Second Advent of Christ, and the binding of Satan in the Abyss at the end of this age. It has already lasted over 2,000 years.

25. THE SEVENTH PROBATIONARY PERIOD—The Dispensation of Divine Government or Millennium (Rev. 20:1-10). The length will be 1,000 years (Rev. 20:1-10).

26. At the end of the Millennium Satan will be loosed from the Abyss to deceive the nations on the Earth, then will come the last rebellion on the Earth and the destruction of all human rebels (Rev. 20:7-10).

27. The second resurrection and final judgment at the end of the Millennium (Rev. 20:11-15).28. The end of the Earth's second sinful career by the renovation of the immediate heavens and the Earth and the removal of the curse in its entirety and all its effects (2 Pet. 3:10-13; Rom. 8:19-23; Heb. 1:10-12; 12:24-28

29. The confinement of all spirit and human rebels of all ages in the Lake of Fire forever (Mt. 25:41, 46; Rev. 14:9-11; 20:10-15; Isa. 66:22-24).30. The New Heavens and the New Earth—the eternal perfect state with God all-in-all again, as before rebellion started in the universe with Lucifer and Adam (1 Cor. 15:24-28). The Earth will be made perfect the third time (Isa. 65:17; 66:22-24; 2 Pet. 3:13; Rev. 21-22).

General Subjects Concerning God's Plan for Man DiscussedPART I The Origin of All Things....................... Lessons 1-8PART II God's Historical Dealings with Man....... Lessons 9-18PART III God's Present Dealings with Man.......... Lessons 19-36PART IV God's Future Dealings with Man........... Lessons 37-52I. Importance of the Study of “God's Plan for Man”(2 Tim. 2:15)II. The Simplicity of the Plan of God for Man(Mt. 22:29); (Jn. 5:39); (Lk. 24:25-27); (Mk. 16:13-14); (Rom. 10:11-18); (Mt. 13:9-17); (2 Pet. 3:16-18); (Mt. 11:25-26); (Mt. 13:10-17)

III. Definition of the Terms and Expressions of the Ages(2 Tim. 2:15)1. AGE. The Greek aion means “an age” or “period of time,” whether long or short. In this sense there are numberless ages:(1) PAST AGES (Eph. 3:5-6; Col. 1:26); (Greek, ages, Heb. 1:1-3; 11:3);(Lk. 1:70; Jn. 9:32; Acts 3:21; 15:18; 1 Cor. 2:7);(2) PRESENT AGE “this world” (Greek, age, Mt. 13:22); “end of this world” (age, Mt. 13:39-40; Mk. 4:19; Lk. 16:8; 20:34; Rom. 12:2; 1 Cor. 1:20); “end of the world” (age, Mt. 13:49; 24:3; 28:20); and “present evil world” (age, Gal. 1:4; 2 Tim. 4:10; Titus 2:12)(3) FUTURE AGES (Mt. 12:31-32; Mk. 10:30; Eph. 1:21; Heb. 6:5); (Lk. 20:35); (Eph. 2:7; 3:21; 1 Tim. 1:17)

(4) THE CREATIVE AGES (Gen. 1:1–2:25, Gen. 2:4) (Rom. 1:20 ,2 Cor. 12:2; Col. 1:15-18)(5) THE FIVE MAIN AGESA. THE ANTECHAOTIC AGE—from the original creation to chaos; that is, from the beginning of the creation of the heavens and of the Earth, as in Gen. 1:1, to the chaotic state of the Earth in Gen. 1:2.B. THE ANTEDILUVIAN AGE—from the six days of the re-creation of the heaven and of the Earth (as in Gen. 1:3–2:25) to the flood of Noah, or from the flood of Lucifer (Gen. 1:2) to the flood of Noah (Gen. 6-8).C. THE PRESENT AGE—from the flood of Noah (Gen. 6-8) to the Millennium, which follows the Second Coming of Christ and the Battle of Armageddon, as in Rev. 19:11–20:7.

D. THE AGE TO COME—the Millennium, from the Second Coming of Christ and the Battle of Armageddon (Rev. 19:11-21) to the New Heavens and the New Earth (Rev. 21-22).E. THE AGE OF THE AGES2. WORLD(1) The Hebrew word olam means “unknown time,” “time out of mind,” “eternity,” “always,” “everlasting,” and “perpetual.” (Ps. 73:12, Isa. 45:17; 64:4)(3) The Greek word oikoumene means “the inhabited Earth,” or “the world of men.” Sometimes it is used to refer to only a part of the inhabited Earth, such as the Roman Empire (Lk. 2:1; Acts 11:28);(4) The Greek word kosmos means “order,” “regularity,” “arrangement,” “ornament,” and “social system.”( 1 Pet. 3:3);(2 Pet. 3:5-7)

(5) The Greek word aionios means “unknown time,” “time out of mind,” “eternity,” “always,” “perpetual,” and “forever.”(Rom. 16:25; 2 Tim. 1:9; Titus 1:2);3. TIMES AND SEASONS(1) CHRONOS, time unlimited, unless specifically defined (Mt. 2:7, 16; Acts 1:6-7; 3:21; Gal. 4:4; 1 Thess. 5:1; 1 Pet. 1:17, 20; Rev. 10:6).(2) KAIROS, a certain limited or definite portion of chronos or time (Mt. 8:29; 11:25; 12:1; 13:30; Acts 3:19; Eph. 1:10; Rev. 12:12, 14); (Heb. 1:1); (1 Thess. 5:1-9); (Eccl. 3); (1 Chron. 12:32); (Mt. 2:1-10); (Mt. 16:1-3); (Acts 1:6-7); (Mt. 8:29; Rev. 12:12); (1 Thess. 5:1-9); (Deut. 29:29);

(2) KAIROS, a certain limited or definite portion of chronos or time (Mt. 8:29; 11:25; 12:1; 13:30; Acts 3:19; Eph. 1:10; Rev. 12:12, 14); (Heb. 1:1); (1 Thess. 5:1-9); (Eccl. 3); (1 Chron. 12:32); (Mt. 2:1-10); (Mt. 16:1-3); (Acts 1:6-7); (Mt. 8:29; Rev. 12:12); (1 Thess. 5:1-9); (Deut. 29:29);4. THE ETERNAL PAST (Gen. 1:3–2:25)5. THE ETERNAL FUTURE6. THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES7. DISPENSATION (1 Cor. 9:17; Eph. 3:2; Col. 1:25); (1 Cor. 15:24-28; Eph. 1:10)IV. The Dispensation of Angels (Col. 1:15-18, Rom. 1:19-23); (1 Cor. 15:35-50); (Heb. 11:14-16); (Isa. 14:12-14; Ezek. 28:11-17, Col. 1:16-18)

V. The Seven Dispensations of Man Between the Two Eternities1. THE DISPENSATION OF INNOCENCE (Gen. 2:15–3:21)2. THE DISPENSATION OF CONSCIENCE (Gen. 3:22–8:14)3. THE DISPENSATION OF HUMAN GOVERNMENT (Gen. 8:15–11:32)4. THE DISPENSATION OF PROMISE (Gen. 12:1–Exod. 12:37)5. THE DISPENSATION OF LAW (Exod. 12:38; Mt. 2:23; 11:10-13; Lk. 16:16)6. THE DISPENSATION OF GRACE (Mt. 3:1–Rev. 19:10)7. THE DISPENSATION OF DIVINE GOVERNMENT—THE MILLENNIUM (Rev. 19:11–20:15)

VI. The Dispensation of the Redeemed and Faithful Angels(Rev. 21:1–22:5; 1 Cor. 15:24-28) (Rom. 8:17-18; 1 Cor. 15:24-28; Heb. 2:5-11, 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 1:6-7; Rev. 12:7-12; Mt. 25:41);VII. Reasons for God's Dispensational Dealings(Isa. 66:22-24; Rev. 14:9-11); (1 Tim. 2:4-6; 2 Pet. 3:9; Jn. 3:16);(Eph. 1:10; 3:1-11)VIII. God's Plan is Eternal (Gen. 8:22; 9:12, 16; 17:7-9, 17; 26:1-4; 28:10-16; Exod. 15:17-19; 2 Sam. 7; Ps. 72; 89; Isa. 9:6-7; 59:20-21; Dan. 2:44; 7:13, 14, 18, 27; Ezek. 37:21-28; Zech. 14; Lk. 1:32-33; Rev. 5:10; 11:15; 22:3-5);IX. How to Get the Answers to the Lesson

(2 Tim. 2:15); (Mt. 22:29); (Jn. 5:39); (Lk. 24:25-27); (Mk. 16:13-14); (Rom. 10:11-18); (Mt. 13:9-17); (2 Pet. 3:16-18); (Mt. 11:25-26); (Mt. 13:10-17); (2 Tim. 2:15); (Eph. 3:5-6; Col. 1:26); Heb. 1:1-3; 11:3);( Lk. 1:70; Jn. 9:32; Acts 3:21; 15:18; 1 Cor. 2:7);( Mt. 13:22); Mt. 13:39-40; Mk. 4:19; Lk. 16:8; 20:34; Rom. 12:2; 1 Cor. 1:20); Mt. 13:49; 24:3; 28:20); (Gal. 1:4; 2 Tim. 4:10; Titus 2:12); (Mt. 12:31-32; Mk. 10:30; Eph. 1:21; Heb. 6:5); Lk. 20:35); (Eph. 2:7; 3:21; 1 Tim. 1:17); (Gen. 2:1–25);( Gen. 2:4); (2 Cor. 12:2; Col. 1:15-18; Rom. 1:20 ); Gen. 1: 1 Gen. 1:2;Gen. 1:3–2:25); (Gen. 6-8)( Rev. 19:11–20:7); (Rev. 19:11-21); (Rev. 21-22)

(Ps. 73:12, Isa. 45:17; 64:4); (Lk. 2:1; Acts 11:28, 1 Pet. 3:3); (2 Pet. 3:5-7); (Rom. 16:25; 2 Tim. 1:9; Titus 1:2); (Mt. 2:7, 16; Acts 1:6-7; 3:21; Gal. 4:4; 1 Thess. 5:1; 1 Pet. 1:17, 20; Rev. 10:6); (Mt. 8:29; 11:25; 12:1; 13:30; Acts 3:19; Eph. 1:10; Rev. 12:12, 14); (Heb. 1:1); (Eccl. 3); (1 Chron. 12:32); (Mt. 2:1-10); (Mt. 16:1-3); (Acts 1:6-7); (Mt. 8:29; Rev. 12:12); (1 Thess. 5:1-9); (Deut. 29:29);( Gen. 1:3–2:25, 1 Cor. 9:17; Eph. 3:2; Col. 1:25); (1 Cor. 15:24-28; Eph. 1:10); (Col. 1:15-18); (Rom. 1:19-23); (1 Cor. 15:35-50); (Heb. 11:14-16); (Isa. 14:12-14; Ezek. 28:11-17, Col. 1:16-18);( Gen. 1-2, Rev. 21-22);

V. The Seven Dispensations of Man Between the Two Eternities1. THE DISPENSATION OF INNOCENCE (Gen. 2:15–3:21) LENGTH UNKNOWN2. THE DISPENSATION OF CONSCIENCE (Gen. 3:22–8:14) 1656 YEARS3. THE DISPENSATION OF HUMAN GOVERNMENT (Gen. 8:15–11:32) 427 YEARS4. THE DISPENSATION OF PROMISE (Gen. 12:1–Exod. 12:37) 430 YEARS5. THE DISPENSATION OF LAW (Exod. 12:38; Mt. 2:23; 11:10-13; Lk. 16:16) 1718 YEARS6. THE DISPENSATION OF GRACE (Mt. 3:1–Rev. 19:10) OVER 2000 YEARS

7. THE DISPENSATION OF DIVINE GOVERNMENT—THE MILLENNIUM (Rev. 19:11–20:15) 1000 YEARSVI. The Dispensation of the Redeemed and Faithful Angels(Rev. 21:1–22:5; 1 Cor. 15:24-28); (Rom. 8:17-18; 1 Cor. 15:24-28; Heb. 2:5-11); 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6-7; Rev. 12:7-12;( Mt. 25:41);VII. Reasons for God's Dispensational Dealings(Isa. 66:22-24; Rev. 14:9-11); (1 Tim. 2:4-6; 2 Pet. 3:9; Jn. 3:16); (Eph. 1:10; 3:1-11);

VIII. God's Plan is Eternal (Gen. 8:22; 9:12, 16; 17:7-9, 17; 26:1-4; 28:10-16; Exod. 15:17-19; 2 Sam. 7; Ps. 72; 89; Isa. 9:6-7; 59:20-21; Dan. 2:44; 7:13, 14, 18, 27; Ezek. 37:21-28; Zech. 14; Lk. 1:32-33; Rev. 5:10; 11:15; 22:3-5);