We believe that dispensations are distinct administrations of God in human history in which the purpose of God is revealed through divine revelation. Human history is a sequence of divine administrations each having unique characteristics, as well as certain functions in common with other ages. God administers through delegated authority in each dispensation. Each designated authority, such as Israel in the Age of Israel and the Church in the Church Age, is to teach the gospel and explain God's purpose and will to mankind (Romans 3:2; Acts 15:14; Ephesians 3:2). The essence of dispensationalism is a consistent distinction between God's plan and purposes for Israel and his plan and purpose for the Church; a literal, plain system of interpretation applied to every area of Scripture, and an understanding that all of human history has the glory of God as its ultimate purpose. We reject the development known as Progressive Dispensationalism.