This post is to explain about the various dispensations that have been brought about in order to restore the gospel due to man's apostasy.
There have been
various dispensations, which are those periods of time during which the
Lord reveals or dispenses the doctrines of the gospel to men so
that reliance doesn't have to be placed on past ages for this saving
knowledge. It has always been easy for people to accept the words of long
dead prophets but not of the living prophet. If the priesthood and keys
haven't come down by proper descent from a previous dispensation, these have to
conferred again by the opening of the heavens. The great or main gospel
dispensations are those given to Adam, Noah, Abraham (Gal 3:6-8,18), the
apostles and to Joseph Smith. Also Paul speaks of having a dispensation of
the gospel in ! Cor 9:17 "17
For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a
dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me." This explains more:
A dispensation of the gospel is a period of time in which the Lord has at least
one authorised servant on the earth who bears the holy priesthood and the keys,
and who has a divine commission to dispense the gospel to the inhabitants of
the earth. When this occurs, the gospel is revealed anew, so that people of
that dispensation do not have to depend basically on past dispensations for
knowledge of the plan of salvation. There have been many gospel dispensations
since the beginning. The Bible suggests at least one dispensation identified
with Adam, another with Enoch, another with Noah, and so on with Abraham, Moses,
and Jesus with his apostles in the meridian of time. Paul writes of “the
dispensation of the fullness of times” in which the Lord will “gather together
in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth”
(Eph. 1:10). The fullness of times is the final
dispensation, and began with the revelation of the gospel to Joseph Smith. It
is a dispensation of restoration and of fulfilment of the Lord’s plans and
purposes since the world began. This explains: ApostasyIn order for you to
understand the concept of dispensations, you first have to understand about
apostasy. From Adam to the present, the whole history of the world has
been one instance of apostasy after another. Adam received the true gospel and
authority so the Church could be governed in accordance with the Lord’s will.
Apostasy consists of the abandonment and forsaking of those true principles and
this happened at the time of Noah, when the wicked were swept away by the
flood.However, the process soon began again, with the result that there soon
arose apostate individuals, groups, peoples, nations and religions. The people
were rebellious in the days of Moses, and had become apostate. The first
scattering of Israel took place because the people forsook their God and the true
principles they had been taught. Their gathering took place as they returned to
him and began obeying his laws.The Lord personally restored the gospel again in
the meridian of time, but apostasy started again in the time of his apostles.
In 2 Peter 2:1-2 it says1 But there were false prophets also among the people,
even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in
damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon
themselves swift destruction.2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by
reason of whom the way of atruth shall be evil spoken of.
Paul recorded in 2 Thess. 2:1-12 that the Second Coming wouldn’t occur until after this great falling away had occurred:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.8 And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. Another prediction applicable to the period when there should be no Church of Christ on the earth is found in Amos: 11 ¶Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a afamine of bread, nor a bthirst for water, but of hearing the cwords of the Lord:
12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall arun to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it. That's plenty for now! I'll try and put more in my blog as soon as I have time.In order for you to understand the concept of dispensations, you first have to understand about apostasy. From Adam to the present, the whole history of the world has been one instance of apostasy after another. Adam received the true gospel and authority so the Church could be governed in accordance with the Lord’s will. Apostasy consists of the abandonment and forsaking of those true principles and this happened at the time of Noah, when the wicked were swept away by the flood.However, the process soon began again, with the result that there soon arose apostate individuals, groups, peoples, nations and religions. The people were rebellious in the days of Moses, and had become apostate. The first scattering of Israel took place because the people forsook their God and the true principles they had been taught. Their gathering took place as they returned to him and began obeying his laws.The Lord personally restored the gospel again in the meridian of time, but apostasy started again in the time of his apostles. n 2 Peter 2:1-2 it says1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of atruth shall be evil spoken of.
Paul recorded in 2 Thess. 2:1-12 that the Second Coming wouldn’t occur until after this great falling away had occurred:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.8 And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. Another prediction applicable to the period when there should be no Church of Christ on the earth is found in Amos: 11 ¶Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord:12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.
Paul recorded in 2 Thess. 2:1-12 that the Second Coming wouldn’t occur until after this great falling away had occurred:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.8 And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. Another prediction applicable to the period when there should be no Church of Christ on the earth is found in Amos: 11 ¶Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a afamine of bread, nor a bthirst for water, but of hearing the cwords of the Lord:
12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall arun to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it. That's plenty for now! I'll try and put more in my blog as soon as I have time.In order for you to understand the concept of dispensations, you first have to understand about apostasy. From Adam to the present, the whole history of the world has been one instance of apostasy after another. Adam received the true gospel and authority so the Church could be governed in accordance with the Lord’s will. Apostasy consists of the abandonment and forsaking of those true principles and this happened at the time of Noah, when the wicked were swept away by the flood.However, the process soon began again, with the result that there soon arose apostate individuals, groups, peoples, nations and religions. The people were rebellious in the days of Moses, and had become apostate. The first scattering of Israel took place because the people forsook their God and the true principles they had been taught. Their gathering took place as they returned to him and began obeying his laws.The Lord personally restored the gospel again in the meridian of time, but apostasy started again in the time of his apostles. n 2 Peter 2:1-2 it says1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of atruth shall be evil spoken of.
Paul recorded in 2 Thess. 2:1-12 that the Second Coming wouldn’t occur until after this great falling away had occurred:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.8 And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. Another prediction applicable to the period when there should be no Church of Christ on the earth is found in Amos: 11 ¶Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord:12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.
That's plenty for
now! I'll refer to the Great Apostasy a little later.
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