“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”  Matthew 7:22-23

Over the centuries many evils have ignorantly been done in the name of Christianity. Men lacked knowledge concerning God’s times and seasons. Without proper knowledge, we cannot act as co-laborers with God to cooperate in His time-dependent plan. In the past and even today, due to the lack of understanding, many Christians futilely struggle to convert and save the world. Those who engage in such task do not realize that the work of the world’s conversion is reserved for a future dispensation. Because many have not understood God’s timing, the pages of history are filled with bloody crusades, inquisitions, and cruel acts. All these horrors were done by “Christians” who thought they were serving God. (John 16: 2)

Because of a similar lack of discernment of the times, most of the nation of Israel missed out on the day of visitation of their long-awaited Messiah. (Luke 19:44) Upon His arrival, the Messiah gathered the wheat of that nation. The rest of Israel, the chaff, in 70 AD were defeated and scattered by the Roman army. (Luke 3:17)

It will be the same at the end of this gospel age.  Many thinking themselves to be God’s people will not know the time of the second visitation (Christ’s presence). And just as Jesus was the harvest reaper at the end of the Jewish age, He will be the reaper at the end of this Gospel age. He will separate the wheat from the tares and gather the wheat into His barn (Matthew 13:40). Through Bible study, the wheat will understand Bible prophecies and truths and recognize the time of Jesus’s return. But the tares will say, “Where is his promised return? For ever since our ancestors died, all things have continued as they were from the beginning of creation.” 2 Peter 3:4.

Without the knowledge of dispensations, we cannot properly proclaim the true gospel (good news). Jesus’s blood has redeemed all of mankind from the condemnation that comes through the transgression of Adam. It is in a future dispensation that all will hear the voice of Christ and come forth from the grave.  Every person will be tried in righteousness and given the opportunity to walk up the highway of holiness. (l Corinthians15:21-22; John 5: 28; Isaiah 35: 8)

Let us heed the Apostle Paul’s advice, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)