Our Question: “When did Today’s dispensation of the grace of God begin?”

Paul tells us how he received “the revelation of the mystery” of God’s secret plan concerning the church, “the body of Christ” that he reveals in Ephesians, the very first of his Post-Acts epistles.

“How that By Revelation He Made Known Unto Me [Paul] The Mystery [Gk. musterion, secret]; (as I wrote afore in few words,” Ephesians 3:3 (KJV)
“And to make all men see [distinguish] what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:” Ephesians 3:9 (KJV)
“This is a Great Mystery: but I speak concerning CHRIST and THE CHURCH.” Ephesians 5:32

Now we will consider the word ‘today.’ We must note that the word ‘day’ is a word that can have a variety of meanings. In its narrowest meaning, ‘today’ can mean a period between two nights, a time when it is light. It also can mean a 24-hour period, or one day.

Then also, ‘today’ can broadly refer to a time, era, or age. The Lord Jesus one day told them in the Synagogue ‘today certain prophecies were fulfilled,’ referring to the time of His earthly ministry. The word ‘today’ is also used in a general way to mean the present time, as we may say that something ‘still stands today.’

But from the Biblical ‘Dispensational’ viewpoint, there must be a definite beginning of what we would ‘today’ call “the dispensation of the grace of God” (Eph. 3:1-5) which brought “the revelation” of “the mystery” of the Gentile “church, which is His body.”

Below are some false ideas as to the beginning of today’s “dispensation of the grace of God” concerning “the great Mystery” of “Christ and the Church. (cf. Eph. 5:32).

• Some would have this Dispensational age of ‘today’ began with the giving of the law to Moses at Mt. Sinai. So they mistakenly endeavor to keep ‘the Mosaic law’ as if it were given for us today.
• Others have ‘today’s age’ beginning with Pentecost, a long-held Jewish feast day, 40 days after the death of Christ at Calvary. They incorrectly claim that at that point, the Jews were set aside, and The Church of Today began.
• Still, others think that ‘today’ began with the preaching of Peter to Gentile, Cornelius, in Acts 10.
• Others say, Paul’s preaching to some Gentiles in Acts 13 began ‘today’s’ dispensational age. We explained the place of Acts 13 in an earlier segment of this paper

If there is to be a division between … Messianic Kingdom to come on Earth and that of … “the Church, the body of Christ” whose destiny is in Heaven …  meaning a dividing line between … ‘Israel’s hope of an earthly Kingdom’ and that of …the Gentile ‘hope of citizenship in Heaven’ (Phili. 3:20-21) …  none of these above can possibly be the starting point of ‘Today’s’ dispensational age of “the Mystery” [the long-held secret] of the Gentile church of “the body of Christ.”

It clearly was with Acts 28:28, that Christ’s own Nation of Israel finally and very definitely “received Him NOT” (Jn. 1:11), thus ending the previous Jewish age, making Israel “Lo-ammi,” (i.e., Hos. 1:9, ‘Not My People’) … thus also beginning a new day for the Gentiles Church of “His body.”

Today’s new beginning was and is Without The Mediatorship of Israel as the Priests of God. Today, we have Christ as our “one mediator” (1Tim. 2:5). No longer was God’s Salvation “of the Jews.” For the Salvation of God was “sent to the Gentiles.”

“Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear [heed] it. Acts 28:28 (KJV)

Today: “… there is one God, and One Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 1 Timothy 2:5 (KJV)

Israel’s “day” is over for the time being, until the end of ‘today’s’ Gentile age. So, with the sunset of Israel at the end of Acts, the new “day” of “the church, which is His body” thus dawned.

Questions:

• Some ask if Matthew, Mark, and Luke were written for us today. NO! They were written yesterday when today was not yet even in view.
• Then the same question comes up about the seven Epistles written by apostles Peter and James, concerning the circumcision (Israel). We must give the same answer. No! They all were written yesterday.
• Note that John’s gospel was written Post-Acts (AD85) during ‘today’s age. It records Jesus’ words historically and some prophesy given while Jesus was “the minister of the circumcision [Israel]” (Rom. 15:8). In John Jesus declares the long-promised “Kingdom to come on earth” to then be “at hand.” Though written in today’s age we must give the same answer for John. No, though it contains some universal truth… John’s gospel is not ‘truth for today’s Gentile body.
• Then what about Paul’s first Epistles written During Acts when he was sent “to the Jew first”? We must give the same answer. No! they were written ‘yesterday’ for another people.

Nobody at those times foresaw ‘today’ so they could not have made known the New Doctrinal Truth that is for today’s “dispensation of the grace of God” concerning “the church, which is His Body” which is destined for … heaven’s glory.

“When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in [heaven’s] glory. Colossians 3:4 (KJV)
“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Titus 2:13 (KJV)

Finally, some ask about John’s book of Revelation. It was prophetically written in the mindset of ‘yesterday’s O.T. prophesy concerning Israel … to be fulfilled AFTER today’s Gentile age is concluded and we are in heaven. Revelation will have of its fulfillment ‘tomorrow’ … after our resurrection to “appear with Him in [heaven’s] glory (Col. 3:4).

The same applies other ‘prophecy’ written by Paul during Acts, i.e., as seen in 1 & 2 Thes., referring to “the day” of the Lord’s 2^nd coming to earth.

Only the Books of the Bible were written in the Post-Acts period we call ‘today,’ These are Paul’s last seven Epistles and John’s Gospel and 3 Epistles, and The Revelation, all written Post-Acts, meaning after the book of Acts ended. But John’s writings pertain to a time AFTER today’s Gentile age has concluded.

Now we can conclude that the words Paul’s Last Seven Epistles (Eph. Phili, Col. 1 & 2 Timothy and Philemon) are written To Us, About Us, and For Us TODAY… while we are to study ALL Scripture as for our learning (cf. 2Tim. 3:16).

- Much of this paper, written by Arthur J Licursi, was drawn from the concepts and writings of Charles Henry Welch (called C. H. Welch) (1880–1967). I encourage all to read his prolific writings.