Four Biblical Eras

This article was guest authored by: 

God’s Focus & Dealing Is With Gentiles and Jews, Individually, At Different Times

I had the privilege of hearing Pastor Meyers clearly lay out from Scripture the sequence of God’s dealing with the two peoples of mankind from the time of creation to this day in which we live. Today we live in the Gentile era that is called the age of “the dispensation of the grace of God” (Eph 3:2). This message covers the four Biblical eras when God’s attention was focused upon and turned from the Gentile, then the Jew, then the Gentile and then again to the Jew. This is in accord with His eternal purpose in having two people groups who will reign in the Heavens and on the earth, for eternity.

Considering the history of man and his relationship with God from Scripture, we will see that all mankind was first dealt with by God as Gentiles; there were no Jews. Then God chose out from among mankind one man – Abram (later to be called Abraham), to whom God made great promises and one-sided covenants concerning God’s plan to be fulfilled with the Nation of Israel. Israel is of the seed of Abraham’s loins, known today as the Jews, who are the Kingly tribe that was to bear the promised Messiah/King – the tribe of Judah. After the stoning of Stephen in Act 6, God put aside Israel and his plan for Israel was in abeyance. His promises to Israel are yet to be fulfilled.

With His laying aside the Gentiles originally and now the Jews, He is now turned again to the Gentiles to produce a new, heretofore, not promised, never prophesied people. These Gentiles would be under a relationship with God based not upon Mosaic Law but rather, the pure grace of God; these people are called – “the church which, is His body (Eph 1:22-23)”. This age, in which is we live today, will extend for some unspecified time period and end with the rapture of “the Church, which is His body,” to co-reign with Christ in heaven. Then not long after the Rapture the Jews as the Nation of Israel, will once again come to the fore as the focus of God’s long promised plan for Abraham’s seed to be fulfilled in the Tribulation and Millennium reign of Christ on earth, and then to co-reign with Christ on the new earth, for eternity. - Art Licursi

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Gentile, Jew, Gentile, Jew

A transcript of a message shared 11.7.2004 by Pastor Elvin “Whitey” Meyers

Grace Bible Church, Venice, FL

1 Cor. 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

 

Only the Jew and the Gentile are mentioned here in this verse. I do not know of any other people on the face of the earth. You are either one or the other, Jew or Gentile.

 

In order to understand Bible history it is necessary to understand how these two peoples (Gentile & Jew) came into existence and the purpose that God has had for each one. History in the Bible is divided into four segments, “Gentile, Jew, Gentile, Jew” and we have made that the title of our study this morning.

 

What do we mean by the title of this being “Gentile, Jew, Gentile, Jew?”

 

The Bible contains the history of man beginning with the creation of Adam and Eve, going all the way through, not just the past or present, but into the future, to the conclusion of the Millennial reign of Christ, even mentioning a few details beyond that. But at least man’s story on earth covers that whole span from creation to the end of the Millennium. I do not know of any book man has written that is quite like it. Not only that, it is the only book, I feel quite confident in saying, is without error. That’s because of its author; this is God’s word, his report of the human race. No other book has so much history with such accuracy as the Scriptures do. The Bible is unique there is not another book like it on the face of the earth. So let’s talk about these four divisions in the Bible -- Gentile, Jew, Gentile, Jew.

 

The first era of history, created by God, begins with the creation of man in the Garden and ends with the call of Abraham in Genesis Chapter 12. This covers several hundred years and at least four dispensations (innocence, conscience, human government and promise). It was a Gentile era. There were no Jews on the face of the earth at that time.

 

There were no Jews because there was not Israel at that time. Israel had not come into existence yet. Everyone was a Gentile. Now look at Genesis 10:1 and notice how it begins, the author, Moses, says these are the generations of the sons of Noah. I’ve asked people what the book of Genesis was about and they say “Well, it’s the book of beginnings.”, but that is not what the Bible says. The Bible says what it is about in

Genesis 5:1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;

What we have here in the very first book of the Bible is the history of the first families of the people of the earth – the generations of Adam – one of those generations was Noah and he had his generations.

Genesis 10:1 Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood.

Here we see generations upon generations, because Genesis means generations.

 

Now let’s go to Genesis 10:5 and see it says.

Genesis 10:5 By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.

So, we see here in the very beginning that we have differing languages, even before the tower of Babel. We see nations, which probably refer to tribal groups, but the Scripture calls them nations. There were no Jews, no Israelites, and no Hebrews; it was a Gentile world. So Adam and Eve were Gentiles, Cain and Able, Enoch and Methuselah, they were all Gentiles. Noah and his sons were Gentiles, and Terah and Abram (later to be called Abraham) were Gentiles - all of them. But this all came to an end.

 

How and why did this first era of history come to an end?

Let’s allow the Scriptures to answer that question. I can give you and answer, but isn’t the Bible’s answer more convincing. Let’s go to Romans 1 to let’s see how man’s first era (Gentile era) comes to an end, a screeching halt as some may say.

Romans 1:18-23 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

 

We see here in the beginning, that these Gentiles new the truth – at least that there was a God. There was not an atheist in the crowd, because God made truth known to them.

(19) Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. [20] For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

 

What did they do with their knowledge of God? Well, let’s start with verse

[21] Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. [22] Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, [23] And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

So, we see they did not become atheist. They became very religious, having images and practicing idolatry. So, what did God do about this? He is not going to put up with this.

Romans 1:24-25 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves (homosexuality): [25] Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. (26) For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature (homosexuality):

 

Idolatry is a terrible thing. I do not know how you can separate immorality from idolatry, the Bible sure does not. “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;” Romans 1:28 (KJV)

 

They knew God, but they did not want to know God. God gave them over to a depraved mind. That’s what they want, that’s what they get. God gave them over to a reprobate mind.

So, what happened to that first era of history?

They were all Gentiles. God “gave them up” and that first era of history came to an end.

 

Even Abram (Abraham) was an idolater, you know.

Joshua 24:2 And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.

 

These families were idolatrous and God calls Abraham an idolater, and yet separates him from His idolatrous land, He took Abram to a new place for a new beginning. A new era in history begins because at this time the Gentile nations have been cast aside, since “God gave them up,” “God gave them over” Romans 1:24-25.

 

The Gentiles are cast aside, but not entirely forgotten; from this point on God is going to deal in a very different way with the Gentile nations. He cast them all aside and there were no exceptions to this. He turned his attention to one man, Abram (Abraham), and God separated Abraham to get him away from his idolatrous people and idolatrous nation (tribe). And, beginning with Abraham God begins a new nation – from Genesis 12 all the way through the rest of the Old Testament, and all the way through the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and into the book of Acts for several chapters, we have God dealing with the Nation of Israel and nobody else! The Gentiles had been cast aside. (So in the history of man, which began with only Gentiles, God turned from the Gentiles to Abraham.) God did not then have a relationship with the Gentiles – only the new nation He created, Israel out of the lineage of Abraham. The family that came from Abraham grew into a nation, given the name Israel, and from that point on they are known as the Israelites. They become Jews because one tribe of Israel was called Judah, through whom God was going to govern this nation. They thought they needed a government like all the other idolatrous nations, apparently because they thought God as there head was insufficient. “Other nations have kings we want one too.” God was going to give them a king eventually. But God gave them their desire and Saul became their king. Saul did not work and God gave them His choice, and David became the King of Israel. I think the reason for calling Israel Jews is because it was from the tribe of Judah, that their government (King) came from. As soon as God brought them from the land of Mesopotamia, the Chaldees, He began to create a covenant relationship with them by which he made promises to them – all this time the Gentiles are without any promises. He promises Israel a Messiah, a Christ, someone who would be the anointed ruler of Israel, a deliverer who would be their Savior and not only that, He promises them a land, and protection from their enemies. He makes them His covenant people, loaded with promises. And the Gentiles have nothing – no promises or covenants after He calls Abraham. The Gentiles remain for centuries alienated from Israel and from God. That’s a terrible situation for those Gentiles, because without God you have no hope or any God.

Ephes. 2:11-13 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

 

These verses are talking about this time when there is an Israel, with the covenants, and not before that time; during which time the Gentiles are call “the uncircumcision” while the Jews are called “the circumcision.” At that time the Gentiles were without Christ and aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel. God had severed the Gentiles from all this. They were without hope – how bad can it be. I am so glad I live now and not at this time that Eph 2:11-13 refers to, because I don’t have a drop of Jewish blood in me anywhere, as far as I know. I am so glad because I would have been as it is described here, cast aside, no different than these Gentiles. I would have joined the Gentile world in its rebellion against God.

 

So, we have a change in history in which God is dealing with one nation, Israel, and the Gentiles are not included, but that second era is coming to an end.

But, how and why does it come to an end?

The era comes to an end and it is the Apostle Paul that gives us the documentation of its end.

 

Let’s see if there is an Israel today as it was at the time of these covenants or when Christ walked on earth, or like any time the Israel of the Scripture existed in history.

Romans 11:1-4 I say then, Hath God cast away his people (Israel)? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

So, it appears that God has not cast away Israel.

 

Now let’s got to verse 15.

Romans 11:15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

This verse says the casting away of Israel is simultaneously the reconciling of the world.

These two verses seem in conflict. (Is Israel not cast away or, cast away?) How do we reconcile these two verses?

Well it’s not really hard – its only hard if you don’t know where to go for the answer. Paul wrote these verses in Greek. We must note that he uses one Greek word in 11:1 and a different Greek word in Rom. 11:15.

In Romans 11:1 the word apotheomai (below) is used for “cast away,” meaning to “push off,” as an absolute rejection, to cast away forever, never to recall again, put away. This is as final as putting your pet “away,” it’s final. Paul says God has not put away Israel entirely.

apotheomai, Greek 683, Strong’s ap-o-theh'-om-ahee; or apothomai, ap-o'-thom-ahee; from Greek 575 (apo) and the middle of otheo or otho (to shove); to push off, figurative to reject :- cast away, put away (from), thrust away (from).

In contrast, in Romans11:15 “casting away” means “rejection” a “figurative loss” to set aside on a temporary or limited basis.

The Greek word “apobole” is used for “cast away” in Romans 11:15.

apobole, Greek 580, Strong’s ap-ob-ol-ay'; from Greek 577 (apoballo); rejection; figurative loss :- casting away, loss.

ballo, bal'-lo; a primary verb; to throw (in various applications, more or less violent or intense)

“Apobole” is interpreted in Act 27:22, as no loss of a man’s life, while the ship is lost.” So it is a loss, but not a total loss. In Mark 10:50 it is translated And casting aside his cloak, he jumped up, and came to Jesus.” (NOTE: The above comments and Greek word information from Strong’s have been added by the transcriber)

This “setting aside of Israel” is not a permanent casting away, because sometime in the future God is going to turn His attention to Israel once again. He did cast them away, but let’s see what He did. Paul goes onto describe what exactly has happened to Israel.

Romans 11:7-8 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

 

The book of Romans was written during the period covered by the Book of Acts. We see in Romans 11 that God has blinded Israel and deafened them, He cast them aside; and in doing so God ended that period of history – Israel’s time is over, for now. Now God will do with Israel what He has done for the Gentiles. God will not forget them – He has a relationship with them, but He has cast Israel aside. He now turns His attention to the Gentiles in this 3rd era, as He had turned to Israel in the 2nd era.

 

The fall of Israel mentioned here in Romans 11 is the point at which God ends the 2nd era and begins the third. In the 2nd era God dealt with one nation, but this time God is going to deal with all nations, alike. It will no longer matter the nationality, as being Jew or Gentile. 

 

In the 2nd era of man’s history, how did He do it? He chose a man and appeared to that man - Abraham. The first thing God did was raise up an Apostle. Israel had had Apostles, the Gentiles had none. Israel had prophets, the Gentiles had none. So God now raises up a man for the Gentiles. Look at Romans 11:12.

Romans 11:12-13 Now if the fall of them (Israel) be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? 13For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I (Paul) am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

 

Who was the man God raised up? It was the Apostle Paul.

 

In Genesis it says God appeared to Abraham. What does that mean? Adam and Eve in the Garden also had experienced the presence of God. Scripture says when God came to the Garden saying “where are you,” they fled from His presence. When He called Abraham he appeared to Him – Abraham saw God.

Acts 7:1-3 Then said the high priest, Are these things so? 2And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, 3And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.

 

Now we see in Acts that God, the Lord Jesus Christ appeared again to a man – Paul.

Acts 9:17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

 

We can note that with the turning of these eras, or dispensations, God always appears to a man – this time Paul the Apostle. Paul saw Christ.

Acts 9:27 But Barnabas took him (Saul of Tarsus – Paul), and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

 

So, we have a third era that begins with this man, Paul, who is chosen to be God’s spokesman to the whole world, not just one nation. This is where we are in time. We are living in this time when God has turned His attention away from one nation, Israel and turned it to all nations. We are it now.

 

God has given us a message for us from the Apostle Paul. But this era of grace is going to come to a conclusion one day too. How and why will this Gentile era come to its conclusion?

It will come to its conclusion whenever the Lord Jesus Christ appears in the clouds of heaven for us, for the Church which is His body. All those who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as their savior will be snatched out of this world from all nations, whether we were of the race of Jew or Gentile. All these make up the one body of Christ and that’s what Paul is talking about in 1Cor 12:13 – one body, many members.

1 Cor. 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

 

This body of Christ will be removed from the world at the Rapture and God will begin the 4th era, turning His attention back to the Israel. He will begin by punishing them, this will be what the Bible call’s the time of Jacob’s trouble, in the tribulation; and then we have the regathering of Israel and the beginning of the Millennium when God will pour wrath and then great blessing upon His people Israel.

 

We know where we are living in history today, and we have a clear word of what God expect from us now – to simply believe (trust in) in the Lord Jesus Christ – we don’t try to save ourselves by works. There was a time for works to prove faith in another era of the Jews, but today we live in the day of “the dispensation of the grace of God” – trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ. We do not know when this era of pure grace will end – are you ready?

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