Rightly Dividing The Word of Truth

[101G]

Colossians 1:13 "For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son (the kingdom of God)."
The kingdom of God has Jesus as the King and all His disciples - He is the Head of the body of Christ - we are the body of Christ - the church.
This stuff is really quite easy.

this is not correct the KINGDOM is the Holy Spirit, scripture, Romans 14:17 "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." and two the HEAD is not the body. and three if the body of believers are transferred/Translated into the Kingdom, the Holy Spirit, then the body of believers are not the Holy Spirit.

but as 101G said, "(now 101G can see how they can become one)" just as stated above. for the KINGDOM are in us and we in the KINGDOM/the Holy Spirit. supportive scripture. Luke 17:20 "And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:" Luke 17:21 "Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."
if the KINGDOM is within us then we're not the same as the KINGDOM/The Holy Spirit, which came on Pentecost.
maybe this is what you meant by the Kingdom and the Body as the same, for both are Spiritual in nature.

be blessed.

101G 101G. (AKA the spiritual saboteur), (AKA the anti-christ)

 

[dwight92070]

'Study to shew thyself approved unto God,
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth.'
(2Tim 2:15)

Hello @dwight92070,

There are divisions that occur within Scripture created by the changes that take place in God's dealings with mankind, and there is also a division that man has created in regard to the division of Old and New Testaments. These are discern-able by anyone who reads the Word of God, it does not take a Dispensationalist to point them out.

In Christ Jesus
Chris

Okay, let's take your 2nd division called "Conscience", or the period that starts with the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Eden and ends with the flood. Please give the scriptures that show how God specifically dealt with the human conscience during this period, or even the mention of conscience. Then please show how God did NOT deal with the human conscience in the other 6 periods. We are told many times in the new testament that God DOES deal with our conscience - but how can that be, we're under the period of grace?

How about the 3rd division? Human government - from the flood to the call of Abraham. Please give scripture to show how God especially dealt with the world during this period through the medium of human government. There was no trace of human government at the tower of Babel. Yet today, in the 6th period of grace, we are commanded to be in subjection to human government. So apparently God deals with men through human government even during the period of grace. In fact there are over 200 human governments on the earth today, so this TOO could be the period of human government.

How about the 5th division? The Law. From Sinai to Calvary. So your doctrine puts Jesus' life and ministry under the period of Law, even though Jesus Himself said: "The Law and the prophets were until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, ..."
Oops! I guess dispensationalism blew it there, huh? Even the "man-created" division of the Old and New Testaments got that right - they put Jesus' life and ministry in the NEW TESTAMENT. But dispensationalism rejects that cause it doesn't fit their twisted doctrine.

How about the 6th division? Grace. Was there NO grace from God in the other 6 divisions? In fact, if the characteristics of any division are also in other divisions, then there really are NO divisions.

The number 7, used by the dispensationalists to designate the time periods in all of history is totally arbitrary. Another person could easily see 10 divisions, or 12 or 24 or 66. To say that ONLY these 7 are discernable divisions by Bible readers is total guesswork. - more accurately it's total indoctrination.

For example, the 430 years of Israel in Egypt could have been a period in itself. The 400+ years between the Old and New Testament could have been another period. The 70 years of captivity could have been one time period, etc., etc.

 

[dwight92070]

Exodus 19:6 "and you (Israel) shall be to Me a KINGDOM of priests and a holy nation." Who shall BE THAT? The remnant of Israel, which joined with the body of Christ, the church, when Jesus came to the earth.
Peter confirmed this, speaking to THE CHURCH in 1 Pet.2:9 "But you are a chosen race, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD (PRIESTS OF THE KING), a Holy Nation, ..."
We are the kingdom of God along with Jesus our KING, and yes, we have righteousness, joy, and peace in the Holy Spirit.

 

[dwight92070]

In 1896, C I Scofield's book "Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth" was published. Then in 1909, his Scofield Study Bible came out, which he permeated with the Darby teachings of dispensationalism, probably more properly called Darbyism at that time. So we see that this phrase (Rightly dividing ...} has been misinterpreted and used for the nefarious reason of indoctrinating people in dispensationalism for at least 130 years and maybe as long as 200 years - since Darby came out with it in the 1830's.

Cult members follow their leaders like sheep. Dispensationalists follow the teaching of Darby and Scofield like sheep, and so they continue to be obsessed with the phrase "rightly dividing the word of truth". They like that phrase because they teach that certain Bible entities or Bible history itself needs to be divided into 2 or more distinct parts - which, of course, is NOT what Paul is saying in that verse, at all.

 

[dwight92070]

The 4th division, the era of Promise. Yes, there were promises to Abram and the fathers, but there were also promises to Noah, which affect all of mankind in a previous era. Genesis 3:15 is a glorious promise of the seed of the woman and the Messiah, also NOT given during the era of Promise. Also during the law and the prophets there were a plethora of promises - again NOT during the division of promise. Also in the era of grace and the New Testament, there are promises galore. So in what sense is the time from Abram to the Law especially an era of promises? It was NOT that, in any special sense.
The seven "dispensations" only serve to blot out the illuminating truth of the scripture concerning the "Two Covenants", the old covenant, with Moses as its mediator and the new covenant with Jesus Christ as the Mediator.
For those who follow this error and say that Christ's ministry was under the "dispensation" of Law (a "dispensational error"), wasn't His ministry a ministry of GRACE, and weren't His words words of GRACE? Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ, NOT law.
Scofield actually says in his study Bible that Israel was given an opportunity to choose between Law and Grace - and they chose Law, but that choice was fatal. See Scofield Study Bible note on Exodus 19:3 and another note on Genesis 12:7.
So that is also another extreme ERROR in Scofield, which has no Biblical evidence whatsoever. Maybe many "dispensationalists" today don't accept this "truth" of his - but it clearly shows how far off base Scofield got. Whether he was following Darby in this "truth" or not, I don't know. But much of what Scofield propagated gave "dispensationalism" probably the biggest boost it ever had, especially here in America. And it is this confused, tangled web of doctrine that has been handed down to those who claim it today.

 

[TomL]

Hello @TomL,

Sorry, I missed this.

I was not seeking to support anything other than the need to rightly divide the word of truth in this thread. Premillennialism has not been mentioned, except by yourself. Though I am happy to consider it with you if you wish.

Ok though the article itself concerns a dispensational understanding of scripture

 

[TomL]

In 1896, C I Scofield's book "Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth" was published. Then in 1909, his Scofield Study Bible came out, which he permeated with the Darby teachings of dispensationalism, probably more properly called Darbyism at that time. So we see that this phrase (Rightly dividing ...} has been misinterpreted and used for the nefarious reason of indoctrinating people in dispensationalism for at least 130 years and maybe as long as 200 years - since Darby came out with it in the 1830's.

Cult members follow their leaders like sheep. Dispensationalists follow the teaching of Darby and Scofield like sheep, and so they continue to be obsessed with the phrase "rightly dividing the word of truth". They like that phrase because they teach that certain Bible entities or Bible history itself needs to be divided into 2 or more distinct parts - which, of course, is NOT what Paul is saying in that verse, at all.

Yes dispensationalism is a quite recent departure from previous eschatologies

 

[Complete]

The term "rightly dividing the word of truth" is the King James translation of the Greek word "orthotomeo", which means to cut straight, found in 2 Timothy 2:15. The NASB translates it "accurately handling the word of truth", which is what Paul is really saying here, but the dispensationalists reject this, because with that correct translation, they can't make it fit into their false doctrine.

In fact "accurately handling the word of truth" is just the exact opposite of what the dispensationalists themselves are doing when they give "examples (in their mind)" of what "rightly dividing the word of truth really means, according to them.

Here are some examples of what they saying is truly rightly dividing the word of truth:

1. Distinguishing between the Kingdom and the Church (when in reality, they are the same)
2. Forever separating the Jews from the Gentiles, even in the next life (the truth is Jesus tore down the wall between them - all believers, Jew or Gentile will be together forever in the next life)
3. Taking the promises to the fathers literally, not spiritually (when even Paul took many of them spiritually - we, Jew AND Gentile believers, the church is the true Israel and we are the true children or seed of Abraham)

So, to rightly divide the word of truth, according to a dispensationalist, is to interpret scripture the way they do, according to their false doctrine.

The true meaning of that verse can be pictured in a farmer cutting a straight furrow or a stone mason building (or cutting) a straight wall. Paul didn't want Timothy deviating from the straight path of the word of God, that is a straightforward balanced exegesis of scripture.

The dispensationalist doctrine MUST be taught by those already deceived because you won't see it an honest reading of scripture, unless they tell you what they say it means.

This false teaching of "rightly dividing the word of truth" called dispensationalism goes all the way back to the 1800's when John Nelson Darby invented it. You very seldom hear a non-dispensationalist use the term "rightly dividing the word of truth". But when a person uses that term almost on a regular basis, you know you are dealing with a dispensationalist.

It's quite amazing that most of them are apparently afraid to just come right out and say "I am a dispensationalist" or "this is dispensationalism". They usually come in the back door and hang out a little while before they actually identify who they truly are. Even then, they seem hesitant to reveal all of what they really believe, because it's not Biblical and sometimes it's bizarre - like their belief that the Jews will offer animal sacrifices again and actually be saved by keeping Moses' law..

Colossians 1:13 "For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son (the kingdom of God)."
The kingdom of God has Jesus as the King and all His disciples - He is the Head of the body of Christ - we are the body of Christ - the church.
This stuff is really quite easy.

Okay, let's take your 2nd division called "Conscience", or the period that starts with the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Eden and ends with the flood. Please give the scriptures that show how God specifically dealt with the human conscience during this period, or even the mention of conscience. Then please show how God did NOT deal with the human conscience in the other 6 periods. We are told many times in the new testament that God DOES deal with our conscience - but how can that be, we're under the period of grace?

How about the 3rd division? Human government - from the flood to the call of Abraham. Please give scripture to show how God especially dealt with the world during this period through the medium of human government. There was no trace of human government at the tower of Babel. Yet today, in the 6th period of grace, we are commanded to be in subjection to human government. So apparently God deals with men through human government even during the period of grace. In fact there are over 200 human governments on the earth today, so this TOO could be the period of human government.

How about the 5th division? The Law. From Sinai to Calvary. So your doctrine puts Jesus' life and ministry under the period of Law, even though Jesus Himself said: "The Law and the prophets were until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, ..."
Oops! I guess dispensationalism blew it there, huh? Even the "man-created" division of the Old and New Testaments got that right - they put Jesus' life and ministry in the NEW TESTAMENT. But dispensationalism rejects that cause it doesn't fit their twisted doctrine.

How about the 6th division? Grace. Was there NO grace from God in the other 6 divisions? In fact, if the characteristics of any division are also in other divisions, then there really are NO divisions.

The number 7, used by the dispensationalists to designate the time periods in all of history is totally arbitrary. Another person could easily see 10 divisions, or 12 or 24 or 66. To say that ONLY these 7 are discernable divisions by Bible readers is total guesswork. - more accurately it's total indoctrination.

For example, the 430 years of Israel in Egypt could have been a period in itself. The 400+ years between the Old and New Testament could have been another period. The 70 years of captivity could have been one time period, etc., etc.

Exodus 19:6 "and you (Israel) shall be to Me a KINGDOM of priests and a holy nation." Who shall BE THAT? The remnant of Israel, which joined with the body of Christ, the church, when Jesus came to the earth.
Peter confirmed this, speaking to THE CHURCH in 1 Pet.2:9 "But you are a chosen race, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD (PRIESTS OF THE KING), a Holy Nation, ..."
We are the kingdom of God along with Jesus our KING, and yes, we have righteousness, joy, and peace in the Holy Spirit.

In 1896, C I Scofield's book "Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth" was published. Then in 1909, his Scofield Study Bible came out, which he permeated with the Darby teachings of dispensationalism, probably more properly called Darbyism at that time. So we see that this phrase (Rightly dividing ...} has been misinterpreted and used for the nefarious reason of indoctrinating people in dispensationalism for at least 130 years and maybe as long as 200 years - since Darby came out with it in the 1830's.

Cult members follow their leaders like sheep. Dispensationalists follow the teaching of Darby and Scofield like sheep, and so they continue to be obsessed with the phrase "rightly dividing the word of truth". They like that phrase because they teach that certain Bible entities or Bible history itself needs to be divided into 2 or more distinct parts - which, of course, is NOT what Paul is saying in that verse, at all.

The 4th division, the era of Promise. Yes, there were promises to Abram and the fathers, but there were also promises to Noah, which affect all of mankind in a previous era. Genesis 3:15 is a glorious promise of the seed of the woman and the Messiah, also NOT given during the era of Promise. Also during the law and the prophets there were a plethora of promises - again NOT during the division of promise. Also in the era of grace and the New Testament, there are promises galore. So in what sense is the time from Abram to the Law especially an era of promises? It was NOT that, in any special sense.
The seven "dispensations" only serve to blot out the illuminating truth of the scripture concerning the "Two Covenants", the old covenant, with Moses as its mediator and the new covenant with Jesus Christ as the Mediator.
For those who follow this error and say that Christ's ministry was under the "dispensation" of Law (a "dispensational error"), wasn't His ministry a ministry of GRACE, and weren't His words words of GRACE? Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ, NOT law.
Scofield actually says in his study Bible that Israel was given an opportunity to choose between Law and Grace - and they chose Law, but that choice was fatal. See Scofield Study Bible note on Exodus 19:3 and another note on Genesis 12:7.
So that is also another extreme ERROR in Scofield, which has no Biblical evidence whatsoever. Maybe many "dispensationalists" today don't accept this "truth" of his - but it clearly shows how far off base Scofield got. Whether he was following Darby in this "truth" or not, I don't know. But much of what Scofield propagated gave "dispensationalism" probably the biggest boost it ever had, especially here in America. And it is this confused, tangled web of doctrine that has been handed down to those who claim it today.

Relies:- #15, #17, #20, #22, #23, #24, #25.

Hi @dwight92070,

I will try to address the points you have raised. I apologize for not doing so before, but I honestly did not know of them until now.

I shall be back, God willing
In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[TomL]

This false teaching of "rightly dividing the word of truth" called dispensationalism goes all the way back to the 1800's when John Nelson Darby invented it. You very seldom hear a non-dispensationalist use the term "rightly dividing the word of truth". But when a person uses that term almost on a regular basis, you know you are dealing with a dispensationalist.

It's quite amazing that most of them are apparently afraid to just come right out and say "I am a dispensationalist" or "this is dispensationalism". They usually come in the back door and hang out a little while before they actually identify who they truly are. Even then, they seem hesitant to reveal all of what they really believe, because it's not Biblical and sometimes it's bizarre - like their belief that the Jews will offer animal sacrifices again and actually be saved by keeping Moses' law..

Overview of dispensationalism

Dispensationalism is a theological framework that views history as divided into distinct periods in which God interacts with mankind in specific ways. Scofield, in his Scofield Reference Bible, defined a dispensation as "a period of time during which man is tested in respect of obedience to some specific revelation of the will of God".[7]: 23 [4][1]: 19 

Charles Ryrie took issue with Scofield's definition as too simple, stating that such a definition opened the system to attack from nondispensationalists.[7]: 23  Ryrie separates the term age from dispensation, stating that the two terms are not synonymous in meaning while defining a dispensation as "a distinguishable economy in the outworking of God's purpose".[7]: 28  He further suggests that the defining characteristics of a dispensation are the distinct governing relationship in which God interacts with mankind during that period, and the resulting responsibility placed upon mankind in that period.[7]: 33 

Evangelical Christians generally agree that there are distinct periods in God's plan for humanity.[10] Dispensationalist theologians tend to hold "a particular view of the parallel-but-separate roles and destinies of Israel and the [Christian] church", with a "careful separation ... between what is addressed to Israel and what is addressed to the church. What is addressed to Israel is 'earthly' in character and is to be interpreted 'literally'."[3][2]

This view is distinct from covenant theology, which holds that rather than having separate plans, "God has one people, one people of God throughout redemptive history, called 'Israel' under the Old Testament, and called 'the church' under the New."[2]

Philip Mauro, a critic of the system's teachings in his 1928 book The Gospel of the Kingdom, is considered to be the first to coin the term "dispensationalism" to describe the theological framework that had made inroads into fundamentalism, calling it "a subtle form of modernism".[4][5]

Typical divisions​

[edit]
The number of dispensations may vary from three to eight, but the typical seven-dispensation scheme is as follows:[7]: 51–57 

• Innocence – Adam under probation prior to the Fall of Man. Ends with expulsion from the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3. Some refer to this period as the Adamic period or the dispensation of the Adamic covenant or Adamic law.
• Conscience – From the Fall to the Great Flood. Ends with the worldwide deluge.
• Human or Civil Government – After the Great Flood, humanity is responsible to enact the death penalty, and has the authority to govern. Ends with the dispersion at the Tower of Babel. Some use the term "Noahide law" in reference to this period of dispensation.
• Promise or Patriarchal Rule – From Abraham to Moses. Ends with the refusal to enter Canaan and the 40 years of unbelief in the wilderness. Some use the terms "Abrahamic law" or "Abrahamic covenant" in reference to this period of dispensation.
• Law – From Moses to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Ends with the scattering of Israel in AD 70. Some use the term "Mosaic law" in reference to this period of dispensation.
• Grace – From the cross to the rapture of the church seen by some groups as being described in 1 Thessalonians and the Book of Revelation. The rapture is followed by the wrath of God, constituting the Great Tribulation. Some use the term "Age of Grace" or "the Church Age" for this dispensation.
• Millennial Kingdom – A literal 1000 year reign of Christ on earth (Revelation 20:1–6), centered in Jerusalem, ending with God's judgment on the final rebellion.

 

[TomL]

don't mean to get into your conversation, but how is the KINGDOM is the same as the Church. (now 101G can see how they can become one, but how are they the same.......

101G.

Christ kingdom is now

It is upon Christ's ascension back to heaven he is given a kingdom

Daniel 7:13–14 (KJV 1900) — 13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

Luke 19:11–12 (LEB) — 11 Now while they were listening to these things, he went on and told a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and they thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately. 12 Therefore he said, “A certain nobleman traveled to a distant country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return.


the kingdom was established 2000 years ago



Matthew 3:2 (ESV) — 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”



Matthew 12:28 (ESV) — 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.



Mark 1:15 (ESV) — 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”



Luke 10:9 (ESV) — 9 Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’



Luke 9:27 (ESV) — 27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”



Colossians 1:13 (ESV) — 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,



His kingdom has been established


Acts 2:29–36 (KJV 1900) — 29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. 32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. 34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

 

[101G]

Christ kingdom is now

It is upon Christ's ascension back to heaven he is given a kingdom

already know this.... for the KINGDOM came on Pentecost. for he Jesus the Holy Spirit is the Kingdom that dwells in us.

101G.

 

[dwight92070]

Christ was King at His birth. He didn't need to wait for Pentecost. In John 18:36-37, before Pentecost, He admits to Pilate that He not only was already a King, but that He already had a kingdom. "My kingdom is not of this realm ... You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born ..."

You must have forgotten the Christmas songs -

"Born the King of angels" (O Come all Ye Faithful)
"Christ the Lord, the newborn King" (Angels we have heard on high)
"Born is the king of Israel" (The First Noel)
"Glory to the newborn king" (Hark! The Herald Angels Sing)
"Let earth receive her king" (Joy to the World)
"Allelujah to our king" (Silent Night)
"Born a king on Bethlehem plain ... King forever" (We Three Kings of Orient Are)
"This, this is Christ the King" (What Child is This?)

I love the wonder and beauty of Christmas - Truly we celebrate our KING!

Also He said "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe in the gospel." Mark 1:15
Jesus WAS the kingdom of God. Remember He was filled with the Holy Spirit when John baptized him, so He already had righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. And of course, He was the King of the kingdom of God.

 

[dwight92070]

Overview of dispensationalism

Dispensationalism is a theological framework that views history as divided into distinct periods in which God interacts with mankind in specific ways. Scofield, in his Scofield Reference Bible, defined a dispensation as "a period of time during which man is tested in respect of obedience to some specific revelation of the will of God".[7]: 23 [4][1]: 19 

Charles Ryrie took issue with Scofield's definition as too simple, stating that such a definition opened the system to attack from nondispensationalists.[7]: 23  Ryrie separates the term age from dispensation, stating that the two terms are not synonymous in meaning while defining a dispensation as "a distinguishable economy in the outworking of God's purpose".[7]: 28  He further suggests that the defining characteristics of a dispensation are the distinct governing relationship in which God interacts with mankind during that period, and the resulting responsibility placed upon mankind in that period.[7]: 33 

Evangelical Christians generally agree that there are distinct periods in God's plan for humanity.[10] Dispensationalist theologians tend to hold "a particular view of the parallel-but-separate roles and destinies of Israel and the [Christian] church", with a "careful separation ... between what is addressed to Israel and what is addressed to the church. What is addressed to Israel is 'earthly' in character and is to be interpreted 'literally'."[3][2]

This view is distinct from covenant theology, which holds that rather than having separate plans, "God has one people, one people of God throughout redemptive history, called 'Israel' under the Old Testament, and called 'the church' under the New."[2]

Philip Mauro, a critic of the system's teachings in his 1928 book The Gospel of the Kingdom, is considered to be the first to coin the term "dispensationalism" to describe the theological framework that had made inroads into fundamentalism, calling it "a subtle form of modernism".[4][5]

Typical divisions​

[edit]
The number of dispensations may vary from three to eight, but the typical seven-dispensation scheme is as follows:[7]: 51–57 

• Innocence – Adam under probation prior to the Fall of Man. Ends with expulsion from the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3. Some refer to this period as the Adamic period or the dispensation of the Adamic covenant or Adamic law.
• Conscience – From the Fall to the Great Flood. Ends with the worldwide deluge.
• Human or Civil Government – After the Great Flood, humanity is responsible to enact the death penalty, and has the authority to govern. Ends with the dispersion at the Tower of Babel. Some use the term "Noahide law" in reference to this period of dispensation.
• Promise or Patriarchal Rule – From Abraham to Moses. Ends with the refusal to enter Canaan and the 40 years of unbelief in the wilderness. Some use the terms "Abrahamic law" or "Abrahamic covenant" in reference to this period of dispensation.
• Law – From Moses to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Ends with the scattering of Israel in AD 70. Some use the term "Mosaic law" in reference to this period of dispensation.
• Grace – From the cross to the rapture of the church seen by some groups as being described in 1 Thessalonians and the Book of Revelation. The rapture is followed by the wrath of God, constituting the Great Tribulation. Some use the term "Age of Grace" or "the Church Age" for this dispensation.
• Millennial Kingdom – A literal 1000 year reign of Christ on earth (Revelation 20:1–6), centered in Jerusalem, ending with God's judgment on the final rebellion.

Jesus plainly told us, "The Law and the Prophets were until John; since that time the kingdom of God is preached. ..." So clearly the lifetime of Christ was not during the Law. Luke 16:16 If it had been, then Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John would have been the last books of the Old Testament, instead of the first books of the New Testament. Remember, "For the Law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ" (NOT Law). John 1:17