Dispensationalism is a theological system that teaches biblical
history is best understood in light of a number of successive
administrations of God's dealings with mankind, which it calls
"dispensations." It maintains fundamental distinctions between
God's plans for national Israel and for the New Testament
Church, and emphasizes prophecy of the end-times and a pre-
tribulation rapture of the church prior to Christ's Second
Coming. Its beginnings are usually associated with the Plymouth
Brethren movement in the UK and the teachings of John Nelson
Darby. The Plymouth Brethren movement, basically a reaction
against the established church in England and its ecclesiology,
became known for its anti-denominational, anti-clerical, and
anti-credal stance. While theologically orthodox, the Plymouth
Brethren (Darby in particular) developed unique ideas regarding
the interpretation of Scripture while emphasizing prophecy and
the second coming of Christ. The theology of this movement
became known as "Dispensationalism."