According to His Good Pleasure

Ephesians 1:9-10 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he has purposed in himself: 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

‘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.’ This is the 1st New Testament prophecy in Ephesians (1:10, unfulfilled). This will be fulfilled in the Millennium when all enemies will be put down and all creation will be united in one – as it was before Lucifer’s and Adam’s rebellion (1Cor. 15:24-28; Rev. 20:1-15; 21:1-22:5).

‘Dispensation’ [Greek: oikonomia] stewardship (Luke 16:2-4) and dispensation (1:10; 3:2; 1Cor. 9:17; Col. 1:25; 1Tim. 1:4). Five dispensations are named in Scripture: Dispensation or administration of the unjust steward (Luke 16:1-9). Dispensation of the gospel (1Cor. 9:17), which is Paul’s administration of the gospel of grace. The dispensation of the grace of God (3:2); the same as pt. 2. The dispensation of God (Col. 1:25), God’s own administration of grace given to Paul; the same as pt. 2. The dispensation of the fullness of times, in which God gathers together all things in heaven and the earth in Christ ridding the earth of all rebellion (1:10; 1Cor. 15:24-28; Rev. 20:1-15).

There are seven dispensations of man: Besides the dispensation of angels (Gen. 1:1; Isa. 14:12-14; Ezek. 28:11-17) and the eternal dispensation of the redeemed and faithful angels (Rev. 21-22; Isa. 66:22-24; 2Pet. 3:13), there are seven dispensations of man between the restoration of the earth from chaos (Genesis 1:3 – 2:25) and the New Heavens and the New Earth: Dispensation of Innocence (Gen. 3:1-24); Dispensation of Conscience (Genesis 4-8); Dispensation of Human Government (Genesis 9-11); Dispensation of Promise (Genesis 12:1-Exodus 12:36); Dispensation of Law (Exodus 12:37-Matthew 3); Dispensation of Grace (Matthew 3:1-Rev. 19-21); Dispensation of Divine Government of Millennium (Rev. 20:1-15).

‘Fulness of times’ – This refers to the completion of probationary times on the earth. Christ will come to reign in the seventh and last dispensation (or probationary period) of man on earth to rid the earth of all rebellion and restore God’s administration over this rebellious part of His kingdom, as before rebellion started (1Cor. 15:24-28).