Dispensationalists vary on the specific number of dispensations. These differences are in part due to the overlap of some of them. For example, A. E. Booth links the first three as the Light of Creation, the Light of Conscience, and the Light of Promise. He then adds the Tribulation as the fifth dispensation (although it is Daniel’s 70th Week, linking it with the end of Law).
Even covenant theologians must admit to two dispensations, although they then tell us that the Old & New Covenants are actually one, entirely missing the arguments of Romans 2-4 and Galatians 2-4.
1) Innocence (Gen. 1:28-3:6). This is between Adam’s creation and the Fall. His stewardship involved naming the other creatures (speaking of his authority over them), keeping the garden, and not eating the fruit of the tree. By implication, since he was held accountable, he was also responsible for Eve. This ended with the curse, Adam and Eve being thrust out of the garden. Nonetheless, God promised a Saviour, the “seed of the woman,” who will bruise the serpent’s head.
2) Conscience (Gen. 4:1-8:14; Rom. 2:15). Not that man had more or less conscience at other times, it was through the conscience that God chiefly worked during this stewardship. Man was responsible to deal with the conviction in his heart by bringing a blood sacrifice to God. Some of the few who responded were Abel, Enoch, and Noah. God’s longsuffering ended (1 Pet. 3:20) and He sent the Flood, sparing only eight souls.
3) Government (Gen. 8:15-11:9). While some would include this with the period after the Fall, we must remember it is not epochs we are distinguishing, but stewardships. Three new responsibilities are added after the Flood (Gen. 9:1-17): fear of man is instilled in animals; man is allowed to take animals as food; and capital punishment is instituted, with man given the obligation to exercise it. God promises that He will never again destroy all living with a flood, and marks it with the sign of a bow in the clouds. But man, given responsibility to govern men and animals, cannot govern himself–seen not only in Noah’s drunkenness, but in Babel. There again the judgment of God fell, confounding the languages and scattering the nations.
4) Promise (Gen. 11:10-Ex. 18:27; Heb. 6:15; 11:9). In Galatians 3:15-29, Paul distinguishes between promise and law. The family of Abram was specially selected out of the nations for a unique relationship. But His blessing was to flow through them to all the nations of the world. While some might include this era with the period of Mosaic Law, God’s covenant to Abram, Isaac, and Jacob is absolutely nothing like the inflexible rule of the law. His promise to them included a promised land and a promised prosperity.
5) Mosaic Law (Ex. 19:8-Mt. 27:56). Given at Sinai, the law contained 613 prescriptions to obey. It was not good enough to keep part; the whole law must be followed or God’s judgment would fall. Israel grew increasingly worse, and eventually they were carried into captivity. From there most of them were scattered throughout the nations. The promise of a glorious future is found everywhere, from the hope of Abraham (Gal. 3:3-25) at the beginning of the dispensation, to Malachi, the servant at the end of the Old Testament The purpose of law was not to save but to convict.
6) The Church (Acts 2:1-Rev. 3:22). Christ brought grace to this aching planet (Titus 2:11), but Paul expounded it–and he never got over it! During this dispensation, man is responsible (“God now commandeth all men everywhere”) to accept the gift of God extended to us (Rom. 5:15-18). Two aspects of this grace are significant: the grace of God is for all, and such grace by definition is unmerited. The judgment of God is promised to all rejecters of the message at the hand of Him who once was nailed to a tree. But for the Church, the dispensation will end with the promised return of Christ. Then the Tribulation follows with judgment on the Christ-rejecting world.
7) The Kingdom ( Rev. 11:15; 20:4-6; Eph. 1:10). Called in Ephesians “the dispensation of the fullness of times,” this begins with the second coming to earth of the Son of God. He will personally take charge of world rule, having put down all His enemies. Men will be obliged to bow the knee to Him. Then the crucified One will be crowned with glory! This period links together all the other dispensations.