The second dispensation (B on the above chart) is called by the apostle Paul ”this present evil world.” He writes in Gal. 1:3,4 (NASB), “Our Lord Jesus Christ, (4) Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.”

The apostle Paul writes that Satan is the “god of this world.” He writes in 2 Cor. 4:3,4 (NASB), “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, (4) in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” God has allowed Satan to blind the minds of unbelievers because now is not the time to convert the world.

Satan is also described as the “prince of this world” and the “prince of the power of the air.” (John 14:30; Eph. 2:2). The darkness, selfishness and evil of this world reflects his influence. In this world, evil predominates and generally, the righteous have been persecuted. Jesus warned his followers that they would be hated by this world because it is unrighteous. “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. (19) If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.” John 15:18,19 (NASB)

When questioned by Pilate Jesus said “My kingdom is not of this world.” John 18:36 Jesus kingdom awaits a new dispensation, “The Ages to Come.”

The second dispensation was divided into three ages: Patriarchal, Jewish and Gospel. During the Patriarchal age, God dealt with individuals such as Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To them, He gave promises and enacted covenants that would describe His plan of salvation to bless all the families of the earth.  For more information, please see our page on the Patriarch Age.

At the death of Jacob, God began dealing with the nation of Israel. To them He gave the Law Covenant, recognized only them of all the nations of the earth and sent His son to them as their Messiah. (Amos 3:2) Israel rejected Jesus as their Messiah and as a result, god cast them off from favor bringing this period, the Jewish Age to an end. For more information please see our page on the Jewish Age.

With the casting off of Israel, God continuing the work of developing the spiritual seed of the Abraham promise. The first member of this seed, Jesus the head, was tested and proven faithful at his first advent. Paul writes in Heb. 5:8-10 (Phillips), “Son though he was, he had to prove the meaning of obedience through all that he suffered. Then, when he had been proved the perfect Son, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who should obey him, being now recognised by God himself as High Priest ‘after the order of Melchizedek.'” Following Jesus resurrection, God has invited individual Jews and Gentiles to accept Jesus as their savior and dedicate their lives to following his life of sacrifice and obedience, those who are faithful, are promised a spiritual resurrection and to be made like Jesus. “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.” (1 John 3:2 NASB) The faithful followers of Jesus are called in the Scriptures his body, the church and the bride. (Eph. 5:23,30; Col. 1:18,24; Rev. 21:2) For more information please see our page on the Gospel Age.

During the end of this dispensation, the risen Lord Jesus returns to complete the church, destroy this present world and establish his kingdom as Peter explains in 2 Pet. 3:7,10,13 (NASB): “But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. … (10) But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. … (13)But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.”

In this prophecy heavens and earth are used symbolically to describe the spiritual powers (“heavens”) such as the various religions and civil powers (“earth”) such as the various nations, kingdoms and empires that have existed during this present evil world. God promises to replace them with a new heavens (“spiritual power”)  and a new earth (“earthly government”) of his son’s kingdom. (2 Pet. 3:13)

For additional information on This Present Evil World, please the following booklets and videos.

Booklet Why God Permits Evil	Video Abrahamic Promise, Covenant and Oath	Video Enoch A Hero of Faith
Booklet Israel in History and Prophecy	Video The Law Covenant	Video The State of Israel A History Lesson
Booklet The Church	Video The Sarah Feature of the Abrahamic Covenant	Video Bringing Life and Immortality to Light