Dispensationalism

== Overview ==
Dispensationalism is a theological framework that views history as divided into distinct periods in which God interacts with mankind in a specific way. Each of these periods is defined as a specific dispensation.<ref name=":11" /><ref name=":16">{{Cite book |last=Bass |first=Clarence B. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ck1LAwAAQBAJ |title=Backgrounds to Dispensationalism: Its Historical Genesis and Ecclesiastical Implications |date=2005-02-03 |publisher=Wipf and Stock Publishers |isbn=978-1-59752-081-2 |language=en}}</ref>{{Rp|page=19}} The defining characteristics of a dispensation are the distinct governing relationship in which God interacts with mankind in the specific period, and the resulting responsibility placed upon mankind in each of these periods.<ref name=":7" />{{Rp|page=33}}

Christians generally agree there are distinct periods in [[Will of God|God's plan]] for humanity.<ref name="POYTHRESS-understanding-2009">{{cite web |last1=POYTHRESS |first1=VERN |title=Understanding Dispensationalism |url=https://faculty.wts.edu/lectures/understanding-dispensationalism/ |website=Westminister Theological Seminary |access-date=9 December 2023 |date=13 March 2009 |quote=Now, the problem is that almost anyone who is an evangelical will recognize that there are distinct periods. For instance, there was a period before the fall of Adam when things were very different because there was no sin and there was no need for redemption, animal sacrifice or any of those things.}}</ref>  However, dispensationalist theologians tend to hold "a particular view of the parallel-but-separate roles and destinies of [[Israelites|Israel]] and the [Christian] [[Christian Church|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.'"<ref name="Poythress-1986" /><ref name="RTS-Waters-2021" />  

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."<ref name="RTS-Waters-2021" />

[[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 system that was making its way through fundamentalism as a whole, calling it "a subtle form of modernism".<ref name=":11" /><ref name=":20" />

=== Typical divisions ===
Although the number of dispensations typically vary from three to eight, the typical seven-dispensation scheme is as follows:<ref name=":7" />{{Rp|page=|pages=51–57}}
* Innocence – [[Adam]] under probation prior to [[the Fall of Man]]. Ends with expulsion from the [[Garden of Eden]] in [[Book of Genesis|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 [[Genesis flood narrative|Great Flood]]. Ends with the worldwide deluge.
* Human or Civil Government – After the Great Flood, humanity is responsible to enact the [[death penalty]], and as such, is the authority to govern. Ends with the dispersion at the [[Tower of Babel]]. Some use the term [[Noahide Law|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 in Christianity|Grace]] – From the cross to the [[Rapture|rapture of the church]] seen by some groups as being present in [[1 Thessalonians]] and the [[Apocalypse of John|Book of Revelation]]. The rapture is followed by 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 ({{bibleverse|Revelation|20:1-6|KJV}}), centered in [[Jerusalem in Christianity|Jerusalem]], ending with God's judgment on the final rebellion.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| style="width:8%" align="center" bgcolor="#ccffff" | '''Dispensational schemes'''
| colspan="8" rowspan="1" align="center" bgcolor="#ccffff" | '''Bible chapters'''
|-
| style="width:8%" align="center" bgcolor="#ccffff" |
| style="width:8%" align="center" bgcolor="#FFFFCC" | Genesis 1–3
| style="width:8%" align="center" bgcolor="#FFFFCC" | Genesis 3–8
| style="width:8%" align="center" bgcolor="#FFFFCC" | Genesis 9–11
| style="width:8%" align="center" bgcolor="#FFFFCC" | Genesis 12-Exodus 19
| style="width:8%" align="center" bgcolor="#FFFFCC" | Exodus 20-Birth of the Church
| style="width:8%" align="center" bgcolor="#FFFFCC" | Church Age-Rapture
| style="width:8%" align="center" bgcolor="#FFFFCC" | Revelation 20:4–6
| style="width:8%" align="center" bgcolor="#FFFFCC" | Revelation 20–22
|-
| align="center" bgcolor="#ccffff" | 7 or 8 step 
| align="center" bgcolor="#8cffc5" | Innocence <br /> or Edenic
| align="center" bgcolor="#8cffc5" | Conscience <br /> or Antediluvian
| align="center" bgcolor="#8cffc5" | Civil Government
| align="center" bgcolor="#e5e5b7" | Patriarchal <br /> or Promise
| align="center" bgcolor="#ffcc99" | Mosaic <br /> or Law
| align="center" bgcolor="#66e0ff" | Grace <br /> or Church
| align="center" bgcolor="#ccccff" | Millennial Kingdom
| align="center" bgcolor="#FFCCFF" | Eternal State <br /> or Final
|-
| align="center" bgcolor="#ccffff" | 4 step
| colspan="4" align="center" bgcolor="#e5e5b7" | Patriarchal
| align="center" bgcolor="#ffcc99" | Mosaic
| align="center" bgcolor="#66e0ff" | Ecclesial
| colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ccccff" | Zionic
|-
| align="center" bgcolor="#ccffff" | 3 step (minimalist)
| colspan="5" align="center" bgcolor="#ffcc99" | Law
| align="center" bgcolor="#66e0ff" | Grace
| colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ccccff" | Kingdom
|}

=== Variants ===

*Classic dispensationalism
*[[Ultradispensationalism]] (Bullingerism)
* [[Hyperdispensationalism]] (Mid-Acts dispensationalism)
* Revised dispensationalism
* [[Progressive dispensationalism]]