This dispensation instantly followed by Adam and Eve being expelled
from the Garden of Eden. They then had to
begin working by the sweat of their brow and Eve had to bear children in pain
and sorrow. Even as the first children,
named Cain and Abel, were born, the world was a terrible place to live. Cain was jealous of Abel and his blessing
from God upon his sacrifice that he murdered his own brother. Cain must wander in search of food, all the
while being very fearful of others who would try to kill him. God is merciful to Cain and places a mark on
him for his protection (Genesis 4:15).
Adam
and Eve had another son whom they named Seth.
He was the blessed child to carry the holy lineage onto Jesus Christ the
promised Savior. All the people who
lived during this time suffered affliction, distress, wanderings, and old age. There was no civilized order or national
governments established to stabilize the evil in the world. During this time, the sons of God (otherwise known
as angels especially created by God) were allowed to marry the daughters of
men, since they were fair to look upon (Genesis 6:1-4). Because God allowed this to be, people lived
hundreds of years of age, because of the pureness of the genes created by God.
Soon
the world became over populated and mankind fought among themselves. Their imaginations (thoughts and actions)
were evil continually. Only one family
kept the pure heritage of God and that was Noah’s family. God instructs Noah to build an ark and then
He would destroy everyone else including the animals by a flood. Noah labored for 120 years building the ark,
and all the while, he preached that man should repent of their sinful deeds. After Noah gathers the animals into the ark,
he and his family go in and God closes the door.
This
dispensation lasted about 1,981 years.
