Thank you, Douglas Henney, for your wonderful post on 29-May.

There is truly something that speaks to my spirit when a fellow brother or sister in Christ seeks humbly and earnestly to rightly divide God’s Word.  Your post brought up a very, very interesting perspective, one that basically tries to answer this question, “When did this present dispensation - that of the Church, or the Bride of Christ - begin?”

I think most believers would agree that the Word teaches very clearly that Christ came FIRST to the nation of Israel.  But Israel, as a nation, rejected her Messiah and was ultimately scattered amongst the nations.  This is all well-know by those who read this site.  God, in his foreknowledge, knew this would happen.  And he spoke about it, in Hosea Chapter 6 vs 1-2:

 1 "Come, let us return to the LORD.
       He has torn us to pieces
       but he will heal us;
       he has injured us
       but he will bind up our wounds.

 2 After two days he will revive us;
       on the third day he will restore us,
       that we may live in his presence.

And we know that with the Lord, who is NOT slow in keeping his promises, a day is as a thousand years.  So, what was going on during the two days, after which he will return to the nation of Israel and revive them?  I have felt convicted for some time that this refers to the present dispensation, that of grace, or of the Church, that is mentioned above.  But the questions remain, “When did this period start?  And when will this period end?”

Douglas Henney made the point that perhaps the present dispensation didn’t start with the giving of the Spirit at Pentecost (that also being for Israel), but that it started at some point in the life of Paul, who was called to preach the Gospel amongst the nations.

So I was curious, and I converted 2000 years into 360 day years which turns out to be 1971.3 years of 365.24 days.  I then went back in time and wondered what happened “2000” years ago, in 2007.4 – 1971.3 = AD36.1

Anyone want to take any guesses?

I went to the site http://www.abiblestudy.com/ (A Chronological Bible Timeline An Introduction), which may I state I was very impressed with, and on Page 4, in 36AD, it states the following very well-known account:

Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. On his way to Damascus, a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" He trembled and was astonished and ask the Lord what He want him to do. Jesus told him to go into the city, and you will be told what you must do. Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he was blind. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. He was 3 days without sight. He neither ate nor drank. Ananias was sent to Saul by God to open his eyes. Paul began preaching to the Jews. [Acts 9:1-20]

The events of Acts Chapter 13 (Paul and Barnabbus’ First Journey) happened in 42AD – seven years yet future.

Well, to sum this up, our present dispensation must be near an end.  Not only is Israel back in the land – although without faith - nearing the point (within a year) to receiving her 41st lash, but we also appear to be near the end of the 2nd day, after which the Lord himself states that he will return to her, to revive her, so that she may be restored, and live in his presence!

Even so, come Lord Jesus!!!

Erik Jonson

 

Luke 18:1-8

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.  He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men.  And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'

"For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' "

And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"