Connect with us

Headline News

Middle School Reading Lists 100 Years Ago Vs. Today

One of the striking features of the Edina list is how recent the titles are. Many of the selections were published in the 21st century. In fact, only four of the selections are more than 20 years old.

Published

on

public-school-reading-lists-100-years-ago-vs-today
SHARE NOW THE END BEGINS:

And you wonder why people were so much smarter a hundred years ago?

“I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.” Job 36:3

I recently dug up a 1908 curriculum manual in the Minnesota Historical Society archives. It provided instructions on everything from teacher deportment to recommended literature lists for various grades. As a book lover, I was especially interested in the latter!

public-school-reading-lists-100-years-ago-vs-today

With the exception of a few textbook-like anthologies, the chart below lists the recommended reading material for Minnesota 7th and 8th graders in 1908:

public-school-reading-lists-1908

With such a list in hand, I decided to examine if the common accusation that today’s education standards have been dumbed down is really true. To make sure I wasn’t unfairly weighting this survey in favor of the past, I went to one of the Twin Cities metro area’s finest districts, namely, Edina Public Schools. Again, with the exception of a few textbook anthologies, the list below offers the reading options for their 7th and 8th grade students:

public-school-reading-lists-2014

In examining these lists, I noticed three important differences between the reading content of these two eras:

1. Time Period

One of the striking features of the Edina list is how recent the titles are. Many of the selections were published in the 21st century. In fact, only four of the selections are more than 20 years old.

In comparison, over half of the titles on the first list were at least 20 years old in 1908, with many of them averaging between 50 to 100 years old.

Older is not necessarily better, but the books on the first list suggest that schools of the past were more likely to give their students time-tested, classic literature, rather than books whose popularity may happen to be a passing fad.

2. Thematic Elements

A second striking difference between the two book lists are the themes they explore. The first is full of historical references and settings which stretch from ancient Greece (Tanglewood Tales) to the Middle Ages (Harold, Last of Saxon Kings) to the founding of America (Courtship of Miles Standish). Through highly recognized authors such as Longfellow, Stevenson, Kipling, and Dickens, these titles introduce children to a vast array of themes crucial to understanding the foundations upon which America and western civilization were built.

The Edina list, however, largely deals with modern history, particularly hitting on many current political and cultural themes such as the Taliban (The Breadwinner), cloning, illegal immigrants, the drug war (The House of the Scorpion), and deeply troubled youth (Touching Spirit Bear). In terms of longstanding, classic authors, Mark Twain and Ray Bradbury are the only ones who stand out.

It’s good for children to understand the world in which they live, but as with any area in life, you can have too much of a good thing. A continual focus on modern literature narrows the lens through which children can view and interpret the world. Would it not be better to broaden their horizons and expose them to a balance of both old and new literature?

3. Reading Level

Many of the books on the Edina list use fairly simple, understandable language and vocabulary familiar to the modern reader. Consider the first paragraph of Nothing But the Truth:

“Coach Jamison saw me in the hall and said he wanted to make sure I’m trying out for the track team!!!! Said my middle school gym teacher told him I was really good!!!! Then he said that with me on the Harrison High team we have a real shot at being county champs. Fantastic!!!!!! He wouldn’t say that unless he meant it. Have to ask folks about helping me get new shoes. Newspaper route won’t do it all. But Dad was so excited when I told him what Coach said that I’m sure he’ll help.”

On the other hand, consider the first paragraph of Longfellow’s Evangeline:

“This is the forest primeval. The murmuring pines and the hemlocks,
Bearded with moss, and in garments green, indistinct in the twilight,
Stand like Druids of eld, with voices sad and prophetic,
Stand like harpers hoar, with beards that rest on their bosoms.
Loud from its rocky caverns, the deep-voiced neighboring ocean
Speaks, and in accents disconsolate answers the wail of the forest.”

The first example uses simple words and a casual sentence structure, while the second uses a rich vocabulary and a complex writing format. Naturally, some might look at the second selection and say, “Good grief! How do you expect a child to understand that?!?”

But that’s the whole point. Unless we give our students challenging material to dissect, process, and study, how can we expect them to break out of the current poor proficiency ratings and advance beyond a basic reading level?

My takeaway from this comparison? It’s great that schools today have students read contemporary literature. But we still need to make sure that students also read good literature from the past and are sufficiently challenged.

Comments

Headline News

The Ugly End Times Fruit Of Rick Warren And ‘The Purpose Driven Church’ Are In Full Bloom At Megacorporations Like Eleven22 And Lakepoint Church

Published

on

SHARE NOW THE END BEGINS:

The Ugly End Times Fruit Of Rick Warren’s ‘The Purpose Driven Church’ Is In Full Bloom As Megachurch Expansion Turns Congregations Into Corporate Empires

If you weren’t aware that we are firmly in the Laodicean church age, take a good look at what now passes for success in American Christianity. Over the past twenty years, we have watched the corporatizing of the local church accelerate. The pastor becomes a celebrity, the congregation becomes an audience, the church becomes a campus, and the ministry becomes a brand capable of expansion into one market after another. Somewhere along the way, feeding the flock gets swallowed up by growing the organization. The machinery demands more buildings, more locations, more employees, and more money to keep it all moving. Eleven22 and Lakepoint Church need another half billion to keep the lights on. How is that possible? It’s possible because the Bible is right and here we are.

“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:14-16 (KJB)

A major landmark on that road was Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Church, published in 1995, which offered pastors a reproducible, five-part strategy for ‘church growth’. Warren presented it as a way to build healthy churches, but it wasn’t. The movement he helped popularize taught American Christianity to place far too much confidence in systems, strategies, and measurable, marketable growth. Once numerical success becomes the credential, the biggest operation gets treated as the greatest work of God. That is a spiritually disastrous exchange. At that point, you are not planting a church, you are opening up a francise and starting a business. Rick Warren in his book led the charge to get rid of hymnals, put everything up on a flatscreen, and change the name of each franchise from ‘church’ to ‘campus’. Today, the Church at Eleven22 and Lakepointe Church are the standardbearers of the business model, um, I mean, movement he started. Jesus will absolutely spue this out of His mouth in that day.

So let’s look at two organizations whose operations who are rocking The Purpose Driven Church model to such a high degree, The Church of Eleven22, led by Joby Martin, and Lakepointe Church, led by Josh Howerton. Eleven22’s own 2025 report lists $91.1 million in annual support and revenue, $176.3 million in assets, $56.6 million in long-term debt, and $24.8 million in staffing expenses. Its capital spending for expansion totaled $16.2 million. Alongside its church operations are thrift stores, a retreat center, and a construction-management ministry. What?? Blueprint1122 advertises $200 million in projects under management. This is not only church ‘business’, it’s big business.

Lakepointe is asking its people to participate in a $225 million giving initiative called Into The Breach covering December 2026 through December 2028. That includes ordinary giving, with $135 million designated for ongoing general ministries, $62 million for expansion and strategic projects, and $28 million for missions. The campaign connects financial commitments with a two-year discipleship journey. If you watched the video posted above and don’t feel nauseous, you might want to do a quick spiritual checkup to make sure you’re still “in the faith”.

Another thing that you see when you look, is the incredible insincerity of the “pastors” who are running the “big show”. Not only are these campuses started according to a replicatable business model that’s available for purchase, another thing you can buy are the sermons you will preach in the pulpit. Evidentially, the “jokes” are thrown in as a package deal. Christian, this is not the church that Jesus started, this is the church that Paul warns against. This is big business, plain and simple. The photo at the top of this article is not real, it was made with AI. And that’s fitting because the churches we’re talking about aren’t real churches, either. Welcome to Laodicea.

Now The End Begins is your front line defense against the rising tide of darkness in the last Days before the Rapture of the Church

When you contribute to this fundraising effort, you are helping us to do what the Lord called us to do. The money you send in goes primarily to the overall daily operations of this site. When people ask for Bibles, we send them out at no charge. When people write in and say how much they would like gospel tracts but cannot afford them, we send them a box at no cost to them for either the tracts or the shipping, no matter where they are in the world. We have a Gospel Billboard program. We are now broadcasting Bible studies, Podcasts and a Sunday Service 5 times a week, thanks to your generous donations. All this is possible because YOU pray for us, YOU support us, and YOU give so we can continue growing.

But whatever you do, don’t do nothing. Time is short and we need your help right now. The Lord has given us an open door with a tremendous ‘course’ for us to fulfill that will create an excellent experience at the Judgement Seat of Christ. Please pray for our efforts, and if the Lord leads you to donate, be as generous as possible. The war is REAL, the battle HOT and the time is SHORT…TO THE FIGHT!!!

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 (KJB)

“Thank you very much!” – Geoffrey, editor-in-chief, NTEB

Continue Reading

Headline News

THE PROPHECY NEWS PODCAST: Newly-Elected Senator Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed Ominously Calls Michigan The New Islamic ‘Capital Of Arab America’

Published

on

SHARE NOW THE END BEGINS:

Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed Calls Michigan ‘The Capital Of Arab America’ As His Senate Victory Raises Questions About Political Islam, Progressive Power And Religious Freedom

“Michigan is the capital of Arab America.” That was Abdul El-Sayed’s declaration just days after winning election to the United States Senate. With Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez having campaigned for him, his victory represents a consequential development in progressive politics. In America, Democratic Socialism is on the rise, Liberalism is on the rise, and apparently so is Islam. Americans have every right to examine what this coalition intends to do with its growing influence. An election victory begins the accountability, it does not end the debate.

“And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.” Genesis 16:12 (KJB)

We are seeing this weird pairing of Democratic Socialism with Islam on the rise, at the same time that a large portion of America seems to be turning against the Jews and national Israel. The American experiment that was started 250 years ago is one of the most unique governments in human history, but it has an Achilles heel that’s often overlooked. Under our system of government, anyone who meets the requirements can run for office and potentially win. Most of the people who get in are largely loyal to the documents written the Founding Fathers. What would happen if the LGBTQ were to suddenly hold a majority in our government, what type of laws might be passed there? What would happen if Muslims were to gain a majority of political power, what would that look like for Christians? We have written many articles over the years about something called ‘biological Jihad’, the non-violent way for Islam to get a foothold. When Abdul El-Sayed remarked that “Michigan is the capital of Arab America.”, that’s something that should make any American with a memory stand up and take notice of.


THE END TIMES COUNTDOWN:

  • Today is day 1,719 of the Russia-Ukraine War
  • Today is day 2,429 of 15 Days To Flatten The Curve
  • Today is day 254 of World War Trump in Iran
  • Today is day 28,669 of The Regathering Of Israel

On this episode of the Prophecy News Podcast, America is a nation that is currently undergoing a severe, and some would say, radical change in 2026. Watching Islam and Democratic Socialism gaining power is sickening, but if prophecy is any guide, it’s also inevitable. Today we give you everything you need to know about Progressive America, and what 2027 might look like. And tick, tock, goes the end times clock.

Study Helps And Links For Today’s Podcast

We Are Broadcasting Live Four Days A Week

  • The BIBLE BELIEVERS Sunday Service & Bible Study

Every Sunday morning, from 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM EST, we invite you to join us live and in-person at the Bible Believers Church here inside the Bible Believers Bookstore in Palatka where we lift up the Lord Jesus Christ in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, and preach a message from the pages of the King James Authorized Version Holy Bible. If you’ve been looking for a First Century house church, you’ve found it.

OUR MOST RECENT SUNDAY SERVICE VIDEO: The Heresy Of Dispensationalism


• The NTEB PROPHECY NEWS PODCAST Hour

Every Monday Wednesday and Friday afternoons from Noon to 1:30 PM EST, we examine breaking news and current events  in light of bible prophecy. 

  • The Prophecy News Podcast: Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Noon EST, we review all the latest news and events related to bible prophecy, and examine what is happening in light of what is written. If you miss the live show, all of our Prophecy News Podcast programs are archived here.

Your Generous Donations Make These Live King James Radio Bible Studies & Prophecy News Podcasts Possible!

HOW TO DONATE: Click here to view our WayGiver Funding page

Listen to What Our Donation Angels Have to Say About the Ministry of Now The End Begins

  • “You are truly an end time ministry and I appreciate how our Precious Lord is using you to educate his very own flock. There is a lot of confusion , but your ministry is putting scripture in the right prospective. Thank-you so so much Geoffrey S Grider for standing firm and putting in a lot of hours of your time. God Bless You , also your Ministry and your family. IN JESUS MIGHT NAME.” T. Muto
  • “Jesus. I am now 64 years old and never in all the years I’ve been a Christian was I able to grow in the Lord as much as I have in the last past year. All because of our blessed brother’s work Geoffrey Grider who as the bravery of standing fast forward without fear of claiming the truth of God by the power of his love in Jesus Christ. May God bless you abundantly to the end my dear brother… ROMANS: 8: 36,37,38” Mireille Anderson
  • “I met you at the car dealership earlier this year. We spoke briefly, then you handed me a card and told me to check out the website. You left. A few minutes later, you returned to tell me not to forget to look up the website. I told you…” I already did. I already subscribed.” In that short time we spoke, I experienced from you…a total stranger…peace, joy, kindness, gentleness, compassion, and love. I am convinced that God sent you to share the Good News that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. For that, and for the work you are doing for the Kingdom of God, I say…Thank you and God Bless You.” Sonia Merced
  • “I really enjoy the emails and Bible studies! I haven’t found a church and enjoy your services very much! Be blessed brother!” Marcia Mann
  • “You and your organization are on the front lines in the Battle For Truth…. current events, end times, and trying to awaken a sleeping Laodicean Church. Thank you brother for fighting for us and all your teaching and insight God bless…” Daniel Cartrette
  • I just want to thank you for the teachings you give every Sunday night on radio.  You are such a blessing to me. I absolutely love your way of teaching the scriptures.  I don’t have a church where I can have fellowship and teaching, so you have been my teacher for many months now. Thanks God you are there for all of us who have no church to go to.  I pray that the Lord will bless you abundantly in your ministry, and your loved ones too.  You are such a blessing to me, and many others, in these last days before the rapture.  Thank you so much Geoffrey, from the bottom of my heart. May the Lord keep you, until He comes back for us. You are in my prayers.” Donald Godin
  • “Thank you for the work  you are doing brother.  Your page and your testimony were a blessing to me this morning as I came across it for the first time.  Thank you for the reality of your testimony and what God has done for you in introducing you to Jesus our Lord.  God has brought me, in salvation, to Himself as well, through His love and mercy and grace in salvation.  How can we praise Him enough?  How can we not share this good news!?  I pray this day for God’s blessing on your ministry that He may save many souls through the work He has called you to.  Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)” Mark and Melissa
  • “Love the Sunday night bible study. I want to support someone who has the passion for the lost like Geoffrey does and rightly divides the word of God. God bless you.” Teresa Carey
  • “I give because not many news outlets are brave enough or Godly enough to tell these stories from a Christian’s point of view. I see stories here that will not be seen anywhere else.” William Grayshaw
  • “It’s hard to find solid biblical teaching in America these days. It’s a blessing to be able to take part in a ministry financially without being concerned about false teaching. All glory to God! God bless!” Maximilian Swan
  • “I donate because you are reporting the truth about the increasing wickedness of our time, as God’s word foretold. In so doing we are reminded to “Keep looking up” as we wait in joyful hope for the Lord’s coming, Maranatha! ” Anthony Sloane
  • “Geoffrey has the best End Times News out there. I have been receiving his emails for years now and always enjoy his Sunday night messages although I don’t always think exactly as he thinks. We are all in this “boat of life” together and as I come to the end of my life’s journey here, I am more aware of Jesus’s call for us to be one as He and the Father are One.” Deborah Cleaveland

STREET-TESTED NTEB GOSPEL TRACTS:

This is the official gospel tract of NTEB, used here on the streets of Saint Augustine and sent around the world as they are purchased through our website. We ask you to prayerfully consider supporting the work of Now The End Begins by purchasing a box of these full-color, high-quality gospel tracts. Thank you in advance!

But whatever you do, don’t do nothing. Time is short and we need your help right now. The Lord has given us an open door with a tremendous ‘course’ for us to fulfill that will create an excellent experience at the Judgement Seat of Christ. Please pray for our efforts, and if the Lord leads you to donate, be as generous as possible. The war is REAL, the battle HOT and the time is SHORT…TO THE FIGHT!!!

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 (KJB)

“Thank you very much!” – Geoffrey, editor-in-chief, NTEB

Continue Reading

Headline News

THE BIBLE BELIEVERS SUNDAY SERVICE: The Heresy of Dispensationalism

Published

on

SHARE NOW THE END BEGINS:

The So-Called ‘Heresy Of Dispensationalism’ Is Believing That God Meant What He Said When He Made Promises To Israel And Gave Instructions To The Church

We live in a day and age where since Bible doctrine is no longer being taught, that passionate discussions and arguments arise concerning what does and does not constitute doctrine. One of these areas is dispensationalism, often called heresy by those who disallow it. They accused Paul also of teaching heresy because he brought them something new that changed the spiritual trajectory. To say it simply and plainly, a dispensation is defined as an “administration or stewardship” of revelation from God given to an assigned person to reveal it. People like Moses, Noah, Abraham, David, the prophets, the apostles specifically Paul. Nothing too hard to handle so far, right?

“But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:” Acts 24:14 (KJB)

A dispensational reading of the Bible is what removes the apparent confusion and seeming contradictions. Jesus shows us people in the New Testament who lose their salvation after receiving it, while Paul says not only that we can never lose our salvation, but when we get saved, God seals us in unto the day of redemption. How do you reconcile that? Obviously Jesus and Paul are talking to two different groups of people. Jesus says that only those believe who endure to the end will be saved, Paul says our salvation is complete and finished, with no works required on our part. In the book of Acts, we see believers performing miracles at the beginning of the Church Age, the age of grace, yet no one living today is able to perform any of them. What happened? Why did it stop? Dispensationalism is the only application of scripture that removes 100% of any apparent contradiction because it puts everything in its proper place by putting everything in its proper order. On this Sunday Service, we tackle the heresy of Dispensationalism. TO THE FIGHT!!!

THE BIBLE BELIEVERS SUNDAY SERVICE: The Heresy of Dispensationalism

The Heresy of Dispensationalism

We have a command from our apostle Paul that appears in its entirety in none other version of the Bible than the King James. The command to study the word of God, and to rightly divide what you read. Right division is the beating heart of dispensationalism.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJB)

Overview: We live in a day and age where since Bible doctrine is no longer being taught, that passionate discussions and arguments arise concerning what does and does not constitute doctrine. One of these areas is dispensationalism, often called heresy by those who disallow it. They accused Paul also of teaching heresy because he brought them something new that change the spiritual trajectory.

“But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:” Acts 24:14 (KJB)

There is no doubt that God has revealed His purpose progressively and has given different responsibilities to different people at different times. The Bible was not written by a single person at one time, but rather by 40 very diverse and different people, from paupers to kings, who wrote as the Holy Spirit led them over a 1,500 year period. Rightly dividing means understanding those distinctions so that we interpret His words faithfully and obey His instructions correctly.

Here is another key nugget for understanding dispensationalism:

The whole Bible is written for you, but the whole Bible is not written to you.

“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.” 1 Corinthians 9:17 (KJB)

“That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:” Ephesians 1:10 (KJB)

“If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:” Ephesians 3:2 (KJB)

“Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;” Colossians 1:25 (KJB)

To say it simply and plainly, a dispensation is defined as an “administration or stewardship” of revelation from God given to an assigned person to reveal it. People like Moses, Noah, Abraham, David, the prophets, the apostles specifically Paul.

God commissions Paul:

“Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;” Titus 1:1-3 (KJB)

God commissions Moses:

“And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” Exodus 3:2-5 (KJB)

God commissions Noah:

“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.” Genesis 6:8-14 (KJB)

Jesus came to bring both the kingdom of Heaven and the kingdom of God to the Jews, but the Jews didn’t want it. So He prophesied about the day when the kingdom of God, a spiritual kingdom for born again believers, would be taken from the Jews and given to the Gentiles. We call this event the start of the Church Age, an excellent illustration of what a dispensation is.

“Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.” Matthew 21:42-45 (KJB)

This prophecy of Jesus was fulfilled at the end of Acts 7 with the stoning of Stephen as the Holy Ghost spoke to Israel through him. It is here that the Church Age – Jews and Gentiles in one Body – begins. But Paul says that when this “pause” or “parenthesis” is complete, then God returns to deal with national Israel.

“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” Romans 11:25-29 (KJB)

Lastly, all scripture is written to one of the following 3 groups. It is up to you, the reader, to rightly divide what you read, in the context you read it in, and apply it where it needs to go. Promises made to Israel are not transferred to the Church just because Israel is in apostasy. Paul places the responsibility of understanding the Bible on the reader, not on some all-knowing High Priest or magisterium like the Roman Catholic Church to tell you what it says.

“Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:” 1 Corinthians 10:32 (KJB)

I. Dispensations and Dispensationalism Are Bible Doctrines

Main Text

“If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:” Ephesians 3:2 (KJB)

“Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:” Ephesians 3:5,6 (KJB)

Truth

The word “dispensation” comes from Scripture itself. Paul identifies an administration of grace entrusted to him, then distinguishes revelation in other ages from revelation now made known.

Notice the progression:

  • Other ages: The mystery was not made known as it now is.
  • Present revelation: God has revealed it through the Spirit.
  • Its content: Believing Gentiles are fellowheirs and members of the same body.

The revelation concerns more than God blessing Gentiles. It explains their shared position in Christ’s body.

Application

Study Paul’s epistles to understand the Church’s position, calling, and responsibilities. We cannot assume that every earlier audience possessed the revelation God later supplied.

Teaching question: If everything was revealed equally in every age, what distinction is Paul making here?

II. God Gives Different Instructions At Different Times

Main Text

“These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Matthew 10:6 (KJB)

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” Matthew 28:19 (KJB)

Truth

In Matthew 10, Jesus restricted that mission of the twelve to Israel. After His resurrection, He commissioned His disciples to teach all nations. Both instructions came from Jesus Christ. Both were correct in their setting. But the scope of the mission changed. Understanding when the instructions were given explains the difference. This demonstrates why identifying the audience and circumstances is necessary for obedience.

Application

Before applying a command, ask:

  1. Who gave it?
  2. To whom was it given?
  3. Under what circumstances?
  4. Does later revelation change its application?

Teaching question: Could we use Matthew 10:5 as our mission policy today and refuse to evangelize Gentiles?

III. Law and Grace Are Different Dispensations

Main Text

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” Romans 6:14 (KJB)

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10 (KJB)

Truth

Paul explicitly distinguishes being under law from being under grace. He also establishes the relationship between salvation and works:

  • Salvation is God’s gift through faith.
  • Works cannot purchase that gift.
  • Saved people are created in Christ Jesus unto good works.

We serve because we have been saved; our service does not purchase salvation.

Different administrations also do not mean that animal sacrifices could accomplish redemption:

“For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” Hebrews 10:4 (KJB)

The saving work belongs to Jesus Christ. The sacrifices could never accomplish what His offering accomplished.

“Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:20-26 (KJB)

Application

Preach salvation through Christ without adding law keeping as its price. Then teach believers to live obediently under grace.

“What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.” Romans 6:15 (KJB)

Grace establishes our freedom from sin’s dominion and our responsibility to serve God.

IV. The Church Does Not Cancel God’s Promises To Israel

Main Text

“Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:” 1 Corinthians 10:32 (KJB)

“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:” Romans 11:25,26 (KJB)

“For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” Romans 11:29 (KJB)

Truth

Paul distinguishes Jews, Gentiles, and the Church. In Romans 11, he then explains Israel’s blindness and promised salvation.

Three expressions deserve particular attention:

  • “In part” identifies the character of Israel’s blindness.
  • “Until” identifies a limit to its duration.
  • “Jacob” identifies the people whose ungodliness the Deliverer removes.

The dispensational conclusion is that God has preserved a future for national Israel. (dispensationalism is often referred to a ‘futurism’, and I’m fine with that. There are many Old Testament prophecies that remain to be fulfilled.) Dispensationalism teaches that the secular state of Israel that exists today in 2026, is going to be replaced by the Messiah when He returns at the Second Advent. And it will! The Church’s present blessings do not require the cancellation of Israel’s promises. Believing Jews and Gentiles presently belong to the same body in Christ. Israel’s future salvation likewise comes through the Deliverer. The Church Age is God’s plan for this present age, but when it is complete, He will once again turn His attention back to the Jews and Israel to finish what He started.

V. The Coming King and the Coming Kingdom

Main Text

“He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” Luke 1:32,33 (KJB)

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” Isaiah 9:6,7 (KJB)

Truth

Gabriel identifies a particular throne and a particular people:

  • The throne belongs to David.
  • The people are the house of Jacob.
  • The promised King is Jesus Christ.
  • His kingdom will have no end.

A dispensational reading expects those promises to be fulfilled with their stated meaning intact. Christ’s present heavenly authority does not exhaust the promise of His Davidic reign.

Application

Read prophecy with attention to its people, places, promises, and literary setting. Recognize symbols where Scripture supplies them, while retaining the realities those symbols describe.

Teaching emphasis: Our responsibility is to preach the gospel and serve faithfully while awaiting the King.

VI. There Are 7 Raptures In The Bible

Main Text

There are 7 separate occasions in scripture where we see a rapture take place. Enoch, Elijah, Jesus, The Church, the 144,000, the Two Witnesses and the Tribulation saints. The Pretribulation Rapture of the Church is just one of them, yet another proof of dispensations and the urgent need for rightly dividing.

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (KJB)

“For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,” 1 Thessalonians 5:9 (KJB)

Paul describes an actual event:

  1. The Lord descends.
  2. The dead in Christ rise.
  3. Living believers are caught up together with them.
  4. They meet the Lord in the air.
  5. They remain with Him forever.

This is bodily resurrection and gathering, and Paul commands believers to draw comfort from it. The distinction between the Church’s appointed salvation and divine wrath is central to the dispensational case for the pretribulation Rapture. Its timing is established by comparing these promises with the other prophetic passages.

Application

Teach believers to anticipate Christ’s coming with confidence and faithful service. Distinguish divine wrath from the persecution Christians experience.

Prophecy should strengthen our service today because our future with Christ is secure.

VII. Rightly Dividing Helps Us Use The Whole Bible Correctly

Main Text

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16,17 (KJB)

“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” Romans 15:4 (KJB)

Truth

All Scripture is inspired. All Scripture is profitable. Identifying a passage’s original audience preserves its meaning and helps us apply it correctly. Paul expressly teaches the value of earlier Scripture for our learning. Bible study in the book of Acts was Old Testament.

“Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” Acts 11:25,26 (KJB)

 For example, the Sermon on the Mount provides some beautiful spiritual comfort for the Christian in our age, but it is written as doctrine for people living in the Millennium when all those “beatitudes” will literally come to pass. The “meek” literally inherit the Earth when King Jesus is on the throne, the “poor in spirit” at that time will live in the Kingdom of Heaven, the “pure in heart” will see God because, He’ll be there in the flesh. We can learn faith from Abraham, courage from Joshua, repentance from David, and God’s faithfulness throughout Israel’s history without assuming every command given to those people is our direct instruction.

Finally, a dispensational reading of the Bible is what removes the apparent confusion and seeming contradictions. Jesus shows us people in the New Testament who lose their salvation after receiving it, while Paul says not only that we can never lose our salvation, but when we get saved, God seals us in unto the day of redemption. How do you reconcile that? Jesus says that only those believe who endure to the end will be saved, Paul says our salvation is complete and finished, with no works required on our part. In the book of Acts, we see believers performing miracles at the beginning of the Church Age, the age of grace, yet no one living today is able to perform any of them. What happened? Why did it stop? Dispensationalism is the only application of scripture that removes 100% of any apparent contradiction because it puts everything in its proper place by putting everything it proper order.

“Let all things be done decently and in order.” 1 Corinthians 14:40 (KJB)

Now The End Begins is your front line defense against the rising tide of darkness in the last Days before the Rapture of the Church

When you contribute to this fundraising effort, you are helping us to do what the Lord called us to do. The money you send in goes primarily to the overall daily operations of this site. When people ask for Bibles, we send them out at no charge. When people write in and say how much they would like gospel tracts but cannot afford them, we send them a box at no cost to them for either the tracts or the shipping, no matter where they are in the world. We have a Gospel Billboard program. We are now broadcasting Bible studies, Podcasts and a Sunday Service 5 times a week, thanks to your generous donations. All this is possible because YOU pray for us, YOU support us, and YOU give so we can continue growing.

But whatever you do, don’t do nothing. Time is short and we need your help right now. The Lord has given us an open door with a tremendous ‘course’ for us to fulfill that will create an excellent experience at the Judgement Seat of Christ. Please pray for our efforts, and if the Lord leads you to donate, be as generous as possible. The war is REAL, the battle HOT and the time is SHORT…TO THE FIGHT!!!

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 (KJB)

“Thank you very much!” – Geoffrey, editor-in-chief, NTEB

Continue Reading

Trending