An age (αἰών) is a period in which God reveals something about Himself to intelligent beings. Ages are not restricted to time and are distinct from dispensations (οἰκονομία), which are administrations within time during which God shows something to humans about themselves. Ages may overlap, coincide with the beginning of a dispensation, or extend beyond the duration of a single dispensation. Ages end when God has finished revealing the intended aspect of His nature to the intelligent beings. Dispensations, on the other hand, change when judgment falls upon those under a particular stewardship for failing to abide by the given rules. Dispensations run consecutively, each being bound to a specific period of time.
An age is distinct from the concept of eternal or forever. When referring to things that go beyond the ages, such as the eternal life we have in Christ, aiōnios (αἰώνιος) is used (1 John 5:13). The term aiōn (αἰών) references a period in which God is revealing something about Himself to intelligent beings, whether in or outside of time. In the future, there will be ages (αἰών) of the ages (αἰών); however, each age (αἰών) is not eternal (αἰώνιος). This is also true in the Old Testament where ōw·lām (עֹולָם) conveys the concept of an age, Psalm 9:6; however, ăd (עַד) with the preposition “to” (לְ) expresses perpetuity (Psalm 61:8). The Lord will reign from an age (עֹולָם) and perpetually (עַד) (Exodus 15:18).
Before the creation of humans, Scripture reveals that there were three ages. God created the spirit beings before He created the universe (Job 38:7). Therefore, the first age was the creation of the universe. During this age, the spirit beings learned of the omnipotent power of God, for they witnessed Him create the universe out of nothing. Genesis 1:1 refers to this act of creation.
Each person of the Godhead was involved in the creation of the universe. It was the will of the Father to create it (Ephesians 3:9), the Son spoke it into existence (Colossians 1:16), and the Spirit arranged it (Job 26:13).
The second age was the period in which Lucifer ruled the entire universe from Eden (earth) (Ezekiel 28:13). There is no biological life on the earth at this time and from a garden of precious stones Lucifer ruled over all who resided in the universe (Ezekiel 28:14). During this age, God reveals His omniscience and uniqueness to all spirit beings.
We then enter the chaotic age due to Lucifer sinning and losing his position of authority within God’s government (Ezekiel 28:15-16). Throughout this chaotic age, God demonstrates His omnipresence to the spirit beings, as the Holy Spirit broods over an earth in ruin to protect it due to the judgment that came upon Lucifer (Genesis 1:2).
At the beginning of the next age, the dispensations began as God established time when He renovated the earth and created a new being that is biological in nature (Genesis 1:14-19). Scripture reveals six more periods, along with the seven dispensations of humans. Together, these form ten ages of revelation through which intelligent beings learn about God. Scripture does not specify the total number of ages that God has planned. However, it is revealed that in the future, after the dispensations are completed, there will be "ages of ages" (Ephesians 2:7).
According to Scripture, we know that we are currently in the dispensation of grace (Ephesians 3:2), coexisting with both the legal age (as inferred from the context of Romans 12:2) and the malignantly evil age (Galatians 1:4). The legal age began with the giving of the Mosaic Law, also known as the Dispensation of Law (Luke 1:70), whereas the malignantly evil age began at the crucifixion of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:8). The legal age will end at the rapture of the Church. The present malignantly evil age will conclude at the second coming of Christ, when He sets up His kingdom upon the earth.
The dispensation of grace is the sixth administration revealed in Scripture. According to the timeline for the seven assemblies given in Revelation, we are currently in the season of the Laodicean assembly, which represents the last period of the Church on earth, before the final dispensation and a new age occurs (Revelation 3:14-22).
Satan’s mimicking of an age assists with defining what an age is, particularly in contrast to a dispensation. During the present malignantly evil age, as the ruler of the world system, Satan has established a specific plan to display his wisdom. This can be observed in commerce, culture, industry, and the judicial systems that govern the world today. Satan designed all these systems to control the sin nature of humans and keep them passive while displaying his wisdom to the angels who fell with him (1 John 5:19). This type of wisdom is displayed in self-seeking and selfish ambition (James 3:14-15). Satan is not a creature bound by time, nor does he function solely within time. He can still enter the third heaven, and often does, to accuse the brethren (Revelation 12:10). Before the creation of time, Satan ruled over this universe, and now he has usurped authority to rule over the earth. In his sin, he did not seek to overthrow God but to be like Him (Isaiah 14:14); therefore, in this present malignantly evil age, he has determined to show himself worthy by mimicking God. Satan's actions are evident in how he has sown his sons among the sons of light, as illustrated in the parable of the wheat and tares (Matthew 13:37-43). Even he comes as a messenger of light, not of darkness (2 Corinthians 11:14). However, Satan has no interest in humans, nor does he fully understand them, therefore, he does not simulate dispensations. We find Satan’s wisdom in debating. Debating is of this age and is not related to the dispensation. Its intent is not to present truth, but rather, through persuasive words, to exhibit the wisdom of this world system by convincing others to accept a point of view, regardless of its truthfulness (1 Corinthians 1:20). Satan is the prince of the authority of the air, and thus governs the activities of the world system according to this present malignantly evil age (Ephesians 2:2).
The term “age of the Church” is a theological term applied to the time period of the Church. However, it inaccurately represents the true purpose of an age, as it is not based on Scripture but derived from modifying the concept of dispensations. The intent behind the ages is to reveal something to intelligent beings about God. In the ages to come, God will display the exceeding riches of His grace in kindness to intelligent beings through the Church. As for today, God is using the Church to make known His manifold wisdom to the angels in contrast to the malignant evil by which Satan governs (Ephesians 3:9-10). However, to humans, this dispensation shows that although the benefits we have are not based upon merit, and God has given to us all things pertaining to life and godliness, we still reject God’s righteousness and seek our own. Therefore, the judgment on the dispensation of grace is the rapture of the Church, for the Assembly has ceased from living by grace and teaching proper doctrine (Revelation 3:17-18). Since a Christian is not under the Mosaic law, and anyone seeking to place themselves under any quality of law is sinning, for anything not done out from faith is sin (Romans 14:23), and the law is not out from faith (Galatians 3:12), the issue regarding legalism a saint has today involves the age, not the dispensation; therefore, we are instructed to not put on a mask as ones who are following the legal age; rather, we are to use the renewed mind we have in Christ to discern the desirous will of God (Romans 12:2). Scripture does not contain the concept of an "age of the Church." Instead, we are in the dispensation of grace during the legal and malignantly evil ages. Using this theological term may lead to confusion about the distinctions between ages and dispensations.