Here again is the doctrinal statement of Dallas Theological Seminary in regard to the "Great Commission:

"We believe that it is the explicit message of our Lord Jesus Christ to those whom He has saved that they are sent forth by Him into the world even as He was sent forth of His Father into the world. We believe that, after they are saved, they are divinely reckoned to be related to this world as strangers and pilgrims, ambassadors and witnesses, and that their primary purpose in life should be to make Christ known to the whole world (Matt. 28:18-19; Mark 16:15; John 17:18; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 5:18-20; 1 Pet. 1:17; 2:11) " [emphasis mine] (Full Doctrinal Statement, Dallas Theological Seminary).

John Nelson Darby (1800-1882), known as the father of dispensationalism, understood that the commission given at Matthew 28 "has never been fulfilled. The course of events under the hand of God-another term, so to speak, the disciples remain at Jerusalem; and a new mission to the Gentiles is sent forth in the person of Paul and that connected with the establishment of the church on earth. The accomplishment of this mission has been thus interrupted, but there is the promise to be with those who went forth in it to the end of the age. Nor do I doubt it will be so. This testimony will go forth to the nations before the Lord comes. 'The brethren' will carry it to warn the Gentiles. The commission was given then, but we find no accomplishment of it. It connects the testimony with the Jewish remnant owned by a risen Lord of all, with the earth and His earthly directions, and for the present it has in fact given place to a heavenly commission, and the church of God" [emphasis added] (Darby, The Writings of J.N.Darby: Matthew's Gospel; Part II, # 217).

According to Darby the commission given at Matthew 28:18-19 has been interrupted and has given place to a new commission, a new mission to the Gentiles in the person of Paul. Darby sees "a new arrangement entirely made-an apostle of the Gentiles raised up, entirely distinct: 'one born out of due time'; 'not of man, nor by man'; who was neither apostle with them, nor from them, but asserts, as he proved, his own independent qualifications" [emphasis added] (Darby, The Apostasy of the Successive Dispensations).

He also writes that "Reference to the second chapter of Galatians will confirm and establish the point historically as to the present dispensation, where not only is the fact stated of Paul having the ministry of the Gentiles, as Peter of the circumcision; but it was actually agreed on their conference, consequent upon the grace given, that Paul and Barnabas should go to the uncircumcision; and James, and Cephas, and John should go to the circumcision. And so far was the apostle's mind under Judaising influence, that it required a positive fresh revelation to induce him to go into company with a Gentile at all, and even after this he would not eat when certain came from James. In fact the Gentile dispensation, as a distinct thing, took its rise on the death of Stephen, the witness that the Jews resisted the Holy Ghost: as their fathers did, so did they" [emphasis added] (Ibid.).

Next