Understanding Dispensations

The Third Dispensation

The second dispensation ended when humanity chose to follow evil, rejecting what was good. This mindset also provided an opportunity for fallen angels to use the daughters of men to produce abominations known as the Nephilim—referred to as the Rephaim after the flood—in an attempt to corrupt the seed of the woman (Genesis 6:4).

Noah and his household were the only humans saved by God when the wickedness of mankind brought divine judgment upon them (1 Peter 3:20). God opened the fountains of the deep and caused the canopy of ice, which had been protecting the earth, to collapse (Genesis 7:11), thereby destroying the corruptions wrought by humanity’s sin nature.

After the flood, God gave Noah instructions concerning the governance of his household. Humanity was now permitted to eat animals (Genesis 9:3); however, they were not to consume blood (Genesis 9:4). Capital punishment was also instituted: if a man took another human’s life, his own life was to be taken by man (Genesis 9:6). Noah and his family were commanded to be fruitful and to spread across the earth (Genesis 9:7).

The dispensation of government lasted approximately 100 years before humanity's utter failure once again brought judgment. Rather than obeying God, they rejected Him and turned to the worship of creation. This dispensation’s downfall began with the failure to enforce capital punishment. God had explicitly commanded Noah that if a man shed another’s blood, his own blood must be shed. However, Nimrod arose as a hunter of mighty men, directly defying God's instructions.

Cush, the son of Ham, begot Nimrod (Genesis 10:9). Nimrod became a hunter of mighty men (Genesis 10:10), targeting those in positions of authority, hunting and killing them to secure the highest rank among men. The beginning of his kingdom was Babel.

Under Nimrod’s leadership, rather than dispersing and filling the earth as commanded, the people settled in the valley of Shinar (Genesis 11:2). Their intent was to remain together and prevent being scattered, in direct opposition to God’s decree (Genesis 11:4). At that time, the whole world spoke one language, which facilitated the rapid spread of sin and wickedness (Genesis 11:6).

In Romans 1:18–32, Paul provides further insight into this period. Although the people knew God—since Noah and his sons were still alive—they chose to corrupt their perception of Him, turning instead to the worship of man, animals, and created things (Romans 1:20–23). Because of their rejection, God gave them over to the depravity of their own desires, with women exchanging natural relations for what was against nature, and men committing unspeakable acts with one another (Romans 1:24–27). Though they knew God's judgment would fall upon their works, just as it had in the days before the flood (Romans 1:32), they sought to defy Him. Thus, they built a tower (Genesis 11:3) with two primary purposes: to worship the heavens and to provide themselves a refuge should God again flood the earth due to their wickedness (Genesis 11:4).

However, God had made a covenant with Noah, promising that He would never again destroy the earth by a flood (Genesis 9:15–16). This was the second time God had judged the world through a deluge (2 Peter 3:5), but now the earth is reserved for destruction by fire (2 Peter 3:7). Nevertheless, humanity persisted in rebellion, crafting their own gods and religions as they worshiped the stars and served creation rather than the Creator.

The third dispensation ended when God confounded the language of humanity and divided the land, forcing people to scatter across the earth (Genesis 11:6). Yet even in judgment, they refused to turn from their wicked ways. Many of the false religions that persist today can be traced back to the idolatry and worship practices established at Babel. In the dispensation of government, Noah was entrusted with specific instructions concerning God’s expectations for his household. However, he failed by allowing one of his grandsons to violate God’s commands and establish a kingdom for himself. As a result, humans turned to the worship of the stars and creation, rejecting a proper understanding of God. In His mercy, God divided human language and scattered the nations, a judgment that continues to this day as a restraint against the spread of sin.