God has had three arrangements for governing man. Every Bible student should know this. Failure to understand this, and to be able to distinguish between the three arrangements leads to all sorts of confusion. Let’s review the three dispensations.
1. Patriarchal Dispensation (Star – light Age)
Bible: Genesis 1 – Exodus 20 Time: Approximately 2500 years
A patriarch was a male leader of a family or tribe. God communicated with such men as: Adam (Genesis 2:16-17), Noah (Genesis 6:13-16), and Abram (Genesis 12:1-3). There was no written law from God for man to follow. However, God did communicate to man in various ways (Genesis 15:1; 22:11, 15; 31:11; 31:24; 46:2; Exodus 3:1-10). This dispensation was the only arrangement in place between Genesis 1 – Exodus 20, a period of approximately 2500 years.
While it is true that we do not know everything instructed by God during this dispensation – they had no written law from God which we can read – still we know somethings: (1) Murder was forbidden (Genesis 9:6) . (2) Fornication and adultery were forbidden (Genesis 38:24; 39:7-9). (3) Idolatry was forbidden (Genesis 35:2-3). (4) They were not to consume blood (Genesis 9:4). (5) They were to work (Genesis 2:15; 3:19). (6) They were to clothe themselves (Genesis 3:21). (7) They appear to have been taught to abstain from: (a) things offered to idols; (b) consuming blood; (c) consuming things strangled; and (d) fornication (Acts 15:19-20; 21:25).
This dispensation is sometimes called the Star – light age. It is so-called because details about God’s redemptive plan through Christ seem only dimly revealed.
2. Mosaic Dispensation (Moon – light Age)
Bible: Exodus 20 – Acts 2 Time: Approximately 1500 years
Israel’s descendants received a new dispensation at Sinai (Exodus 20). This was a written system of laws (Exodus 24:4-7; 31:18; 32:15-16; 34:1; Deuteronomy 9:10-11; 31:24-26; Joshua 8:34-35; 24:26-27; 1 Kings 2:1-3; Acts 15:21; etc.). It contained a total of 613 commandments. It also contained written prophesies concerning a coming Messiah (Luke 24:44; John 5:39; Acts 8:30, 35; 17:11; 18:28; 26:22, 27-28; 28:23). This dispensation was given to Israel alone (Exodus 20:1-2; 31:16-17a; Deuteronomy 5:2-6 cf. 4:37; 5:15; Nehemiah 9:13-14).
The rest of humanity continued under the Patriarchal Dispensation {Romans 2:11-12 [Those without the law = Gentiles without the law of Moses. Those in the law = Israelites with the law of Moses. Clearly, the gentile world was not without any law, because without accountability to law they could not sin (Romans 4:15; 1 John 3:4)]; Acts 15:1-21; 21:18-25 [The distinction between gentile and Israelite is still evident in this transitional period of time ]}.
The Biblical record focuses in on Israel at this point. However, we should not take this to mean that there were no God-fearing gentiles. Prior to the giving of the Mosaic law, we read of Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18-20), Job (The book of Job), and Jethro (Exodus 18:12, 17-24). After the giving of the law, Jesus spoke of other sheep (John 10:16), and we read of Cornelius (Acts 10:16).
Why was the Mosaic Dispensation given? (a) It was given to provide civil laws for Israel to live by as a nation (Deuteronomy 22:8; Exodus 21:28-29). (b) It was given to Israel as a tutor or a schoolmaster (Galatians 3:24). “Lit. ‘child-leader’ …a slave, to whom in wealthy families the general oversight of a boy was committed. It was his duty to accompany the charge to and from school, and never to lose sight of him in public, to prevent association with objectionable companions, to inoculate moral lessons at every opportunity, etc” (I.S.B.E., Vol. 4, p. 2702).
The tutor separated and protected the child from bad influences. Even so, the Mosaic law separated Israel and made her a distinct people with a recognizable distinct seed-line by which a Savior would appear. This dispensation is sometimes called the Moon-light Age. God’s redemptive plan through Christ begins to shine a bit brighter.
The tutor helped the child learn lessons. Even so, the Mosaic law provided continuous lessons on man’s sin problem (Romans 7:7; Galatians 3:21b-22; Hebrews 10:1-4). It also taught by written prophecy of a coming Savior (Romans 3:1-2; Luke 24:44; John 5:39; Acts 8:30, 35; 17:11; 18:28; 26:22, 27-28; 28:23). The Mosaic system, itself, foretold of a coming new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34; cf. Hebrews 8:7-13; 10:15-18). There would be differences. (1) The Israelites of old became Israelites (God’s chosen people) by physical birth. They had to later be taught of God. However, under the New Covenant one must first be taught (John 6:45 cf. Isaiah 54:13; Acts 18:8 cf. Galatians 3:26-28). (2) Sin under the Mosaic system was remembered every year on the Day of Atonement (Hebrews 10:1-4 cf. Leviticus 16:11-15). The New Covenant makes it possible for sin to be remembered no more (Hebrews 10:17-18).
3. Christian Dispensation (Sun-light or Son-light Age)
Bible: Acts 2 – Revelation 22 Time: Approximately 2000 years and counting
This dispensation is for all humanity (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-47). Christ reconciled them both (Jew and Gentile, B.H.) to God in one body (church of Ephesians 1:22-23) through the cross” (Ephesians 2:16). The gospel is God’s power to save both Jew and Greek (Romans 1:16). “There is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord overall is rich to all who call upon Him” (Romans 10:12). “There is neither Jew nor Greek… all are one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
The foundation of this dispensation is the teaching of Jesus and His apostles and prophets (Ephesians 2:20). (1) Just as Moses first declared the law and then ratified it with blood (Exodus 24), Even so, Jesus did (Hebrews 9:16-19). Jesus taught new covenant legislation (Luke 16:16; Matthew 18:15-17). His blood ratified the covenant (Matthew 26:28). (2) The Holy Spirit provided the apostles with perfect remembrance of what Christ taught, and guided them into revealing all truth God wanted us to have (John 14:25-26; 15:26-27; 16:12-14). We will be judged by these words (John 12:48; Romans 2:16).
This dispensation is sometimes called the Sun-light Age. It is so-called because it is during this dispensation that God’s redemptive man through Christ is finally brightly seen. It is sometimes called the Son-light Age because this brightness shines through the Son.
Our relationship to the Old Testament: (1) We are not under the specifics of the old law [Romans 7:4 cf. 7:7 (Exodus 20:17)]. (2) Yet, there are great principles that we should learn from the Old Testament record (Romans 15:4a; 1 Corinthians 10:11). It teaches us of: (a) man’s origin; (b) the origin of the home; (c) how man is tempted; (d) how God views sin; (e) the behavior of Biblical faith (Hebrews 11); (f) the patience of Job (James 5:11); (g) don’t fall short of the promised land (1 Corinthians 10; Hebrews; Jude 5). (h) Type-antetype pictures may help us to understand the New Testament principles better (Hebrews 10:1; 1 Peter 3:21; 1 Peter 2:5, 9, etc.). (i) Old Testament prophesies help build faith and identify the Christ; (j) There are 373 direct quotations from the Old Testament contained in the pages of the New Testament. Plus, there are many, many more indirect quotations and allusions. It would be very difficult (if not impossible) to understand some New Testament passages without a working knowledge of the Old Testament.
Proofs that we are not under the Mosaic Dispensation: (1) Most of humanity never was under the Mosaic Dispensation (Exodus 20:1-2; 31:16-17a; Deuteronomy 5:2-6 cf. 4:37; 5:15; Nehemiah 9:13-14). (2) If Jesus is our High Priest, then we must be under a different dispensation (Hebrews 7:12-14).
Bryan Hodge 
I sincerely want to thank the writer of this topic: Three Dispensations of the Bible. I now understood how God spoke to man in different dispensations.
Thank you.
Thanks, I am glad you benefitted.
I was told that a dispensation of 2000 years is specially allotted to the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:4, John 14:16. I have never been taught this before, could you explain?
Thanks for your interest in Biblical things. The Spirit certainly was poured out on Pentecost, revealing and confirming the New Testament message. The is nothing in scripture that says that this last dispensation would last 2000 years. In fact, we are beyond that length of time already. Some who try to set a time for the Lord’s return speculate. Some reason that since the first period lasted about 2500 years, and the second lasted about 1500 years, that the third period should last about 2000. Some premillennialist hold to a theory of seven dispensations, but I do not hold this position. I believe that there are three clear ways that God has dealt with man to this point (e.g., Romans 2:11-16).
Impressive
To Mr. Hodge and the Young Earth Creation movement of “about” 6,000 years ago.
The above outline of 2,500 + 1,500 + 2,000 is correct to the end of the 6,000th year when Messiah Yeshuah appears to reign for the 7th “Day” millennial kingdom Rev 20.
The reason you don’t know this and use the word “about” is because.
(1) People don’t know how to count the way the Bible counts with its many unusual ancient counting conventions. For example, all the begetting ages of the Patriarchs given in the chrono-genealogies of Gen 5 & 11 are each to be IN-clusively counted and not EX-clusively counted. Such, that Noah for example, WAS 600 years old and IN his 600th year at the same time. Meaning he was 599-years old and an unknown number of days or months when the flood waters came =Gen 7:6 then 7:11. THUS, the flood year was in 1,650-AM (=years from creation) and Noah began his new world out of the Ark in 1,651-AM that was a 50th Yovel year counted from year-2 of creation. The 1st ever Yovel year began on the 10th day of creation when God “clothed” Adam and Eve with Animal skins on the 1st ever Day of Atonement and 1st ever Yovel year of 1-AM. Then every 7×7+1 thereafter in 51, 101,151… 1,651 and Abram,s birth in 2,001 when Noah died.
Note: Noah born in 1,051 and fathered at 1,551. Flood ended early in 1,651 and he died 350 years later when Abram takes over. All on God’s appointed Yovel 50th year.
(2) It is not realized that Daniel’s 70×7’s totals 500 years not 490 because the stand-alone and separate 50th Yovel year is UN-derstood, to be intercalated, after every 7×7 c.f., Lev 25.
And it was indeed 2,000 + 500 years to the end of the Patriarchal age if it is understood to end in the year of the Exodus in 2,501-AM. God appeared to Abram in UR and gave his promises when Abram was 70 years old then =430 to the Exodus from Egypt i.e., 2,001 to 2,501.
From the Exodus from Egypt in 2,501 and to the Exodus from Babylon in 3,501 it was exactly 1 “Day” or 1,000-years, or 1,500 years to the cross after Egypt.
(3) You don’t believe your own Bible’s for Dan 11:1-4 plainly teaches 5 Persian Kings, at the most, before Alexander the Great conquers Babylon. BUT, people like James Ussher and Floyd Nolan Jones follow secular history, based on Plutonomy’s canon which has 10, I say it again, 10 or more Persian kings. Ussher himself adds 83 fake Persian years into his “Bible” chronology between 537-BC to 454-BC. This Persian gap theory is required by secular chronology, not Bible ONLY chronology.
See chart https://creation.com/images/pdfs/other/timeline_of_the_bible.pdf
(4) People don’t seem to believe their own Bibles in Hosea 5:15–6:2 or the 1,000-year “Day” of Rev 20:1-6. For it is from the year Jesus ascends BACK to His place in heaven that He/it will be exactly 2,000 years until He returns and “Heals” us for a “Day” = 1,000-years. Hosea’s 3rd “Day” is the promised 7th “Day” Sabbath millennium that begins with a Great “Golden” Yovel year of restoration in 6,001-AM. Hosea’s 2-“Days” is 2,000 years from 4,001-AM when Messiah was crucified.
The age of the universe is not yet 6,000 years old for it is not yet 2,000 years from when Jesus died. When we subtract the ADDED non-Persian years it becomes clearer that we are not in the 7th Millennium, by some years, as Jesus died most probably in the early 30’s AD and will return in the early 2,030’s AD. He died and ascended back to His place on the Great Jubilee/Yovel year of 4,001-AM to set the captives free = stage-1, then the coming millennial kingdom = stage-2 and after the 7,000th year at the beginning of 7,001-AM it is the fully redeemed new paradise, stage-3 forever. No more sin, no more death for all of Jesus’ fully redeemed race.
The traditional outline of 2+2+2+1=7, can be as 2.5+1.5+2+1=7, or 2+.5+1+.5+2+1=7 or 2+.5+.5+.5+.5+2+1=7 with 4 x 500-year central half “Days” or 4x 10 Jubilee cycles of 50.
And 120 Jubilee cycles is 6,000 years from fiat creation.
Regards Glen
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. My aim in the article was not to give a lengthy study of chronology nor was it to defend the young earth position, though I do believe in a young earth. My aim was to provide a basic outline of the three dispensations. I will look at some of the things you have said.
However, here are a couple of thoughts. (1) I Do not think that anyone, but God, knows when Jesus will come (Matthew 24:36). We must stay ready. (2) I do not think that Revelation 20 refers to a literal thousand years (see my article Revelation: 1,000 Years). Whenever He comes, I want to be found in His favor. Let’s stay ready.
Best regards, Bryan
That is a really impressive response. Christ will eventually come but when, he does not even know sayeth the bible. A lot of people busy themselves without not paying much attention to the gospel of grace. Mathew 24 talks explicitly about the destruction of Jerusalem and the second coming of Christ. All he said was to be ready as the day is unknown to him. I equally want to be found in His favor.
Great piece bro Bryan Hodge
Praying for more wisdom and strength!
Opemipo Olusola from Nigeria
I want to be a preacher, can you help me?
Hi, Thanks for your interest. We need good preachers. Are you a member of the church of Christ? If so, where? Where are you wanting to attend preaching school? Have you been accepted?
YES, I AM IN GHANA AND WORSHIPPING WITH ONE OF THE CHURCH IN UPPER EAST REGION
Great to hear from you.
Please which church do belong to?
I am a member of the church of Christ.
i am also a member and a preacher student. I was assigned to preach on dispensation and i used your article. Thank you.
I am glad to hear that you found it useful. Where are you a student?
West Coast school of Preaching – Takoradi Ghana. Bear Valley of Denver – International Bible School
I am glad to hear that you are in school. I travel to Ghana. I work with Daniel Arthur in Cape Coast. I hope we can meet on a future visit.
yes. I am preaching on the three dispensation in December at Egyam new Takoradi
A summary of: prayer, worship, marriage etc. among the three main biblical Dispensations