Harry Ironside (1876-1951) wrote more than 60 books as well as many pamphlets and articles on Bible subjects. Although he had no formal education and was never ordained, he served for more than 50 years as a home missionary, evangelist, and Bible teacher. For 18 of his 50 years of ministry, he was pastor of the Moody Memorial Church in Chicago.
1. Not Wrath But Rapture
2. Baptism: What Saith The Scripture?
3. Holiness – The False And The True
4. Wrongly Dividing The Word Of Truth
5. Exposing Error: Is It Worthwhile?
6. Full Assurance
One may illustrate a dispensation in a very simple way, remembering that the word really means “house order,” and I might add, the Greek word has been Anglicized, and we know it as “economy.” Let us suppose a young woman whom we will call Mary, is going out into service. She obtains a position in a humble home belonging to a good family of the working class. There are certain rules governing that home which she must learn to observe. All perhaps is not plain to her at once, but as time goes on, she learns more and more fully the desires of her mistress. We will say she is to rise at five every morning and begin to prepare the breakfast and put up the lunches for those who go out to work. At six she is to ring the rising bell; at half-past six the family are supposed to be at the breakfast-table; and at seven they leave for work. Dinner of course is at a certain hour at night, and in the meantime she has her different duties to perform in keeping the house in order. She learns quite thoroughly the domestic economy of this particular home and becomes a well-qualified household servant. Now let us suppose that later on she finds that a cook and housekeeper is needed for the large mansion on the hill. She applies for the position and is accepted. Moving in, her mistress undertakes to instruct her in the economy of the new home, but Mary says, “You need not give me any instructions, Ma’am, I know exactly how a house should be run. just leave it to me and everything will be attended to properly. I have had some years of experience in housekeeping and I would not have asked for the position if I did not know what was required.” Her mistress is dubious, but, for the time being, acquiesces.
The next morning, the waking-gong sounds at six o’clock. The family, who are accustomed to banker’s hours during the day and are given to very late hours at night, are astonished and chagrined at being aroused so early. The mistress calls down to the housekeeper, “What does this mean?” and learns that breakfast will be on the table in half-an-hour.
“Why, Mary,” she exclaims; “we never breakfast here until half-past eight.”
“But the breakfast is hot and the lunches are all ready, Ma’am.”
“No one carries lunches in this home. You see, Mary, you do not understand the arrangement here. I shall have to instruct you carefully today.” And poor bewildered Mary learns the importance of dispensational truth!
The illustration, I know, is crude, but I think any one will see the point. God had one order for the house of Israel. There is another order for the house of God, the Church of the living God today. There will be a different order in the millennial age, and there have been varying orders in the past.
~ Harry Ironside ~
The next morning, the waking-gong sounds at six o’clock. The family, who are accustomed to banker’s hours during the day and are given to very late hours at night, are astonished and chagrined at being aroused so early. The mistress calls down to the housekeeper, “What does this mean?” and learns that breakfast will be on the table in half-an-hour.
“Why, Mary,” she exclaims; “we never breakfast here until half-past eight.”
“But the breakfast is hot and the lunches are all ready, Ma’am.”
“No one carries lunches in this home. You see, Mary, you do not understand the arrangement here. I shall have to instruct you carefully today.” And poor bewildered Mary learns the importance of dispensational truth!
The illustration, I know, is crude, but I think any one will see the point. God had one order for the house of Israel. There is another order for the house of God, the Church of the living God today. There will be a different order in the millennial age, and there have been varying orders in the past.
~ Harry Ironside ~
