<p>This paper proposes two implicit-explicit linear compact finite difference schemes with fourth-order accuracy in both space and time for the generalized Benjamin-Bona-Mahony-Burgers equation. Specifically, a fourth-order explicit Runge-Kutta method is employed for temporal discretization, combined with a high-order compact finite difference strategy for spatial discretization. This formulation effectively addresses several limitations inherent in traditional high-order methods, including the mismatch between temporal and spatial accuracy, severe time-step restrictions imposed by stability constraints, and the non-compact stencils and initialization costs associated with multi-level implicit strategies. The existence and uniqueness of the numerical solution for the generalized Benjamin-Bona-Mahony-Burgers equation are rigorously proven. When applied to the classical Benjamin-Bona-Mahony equation, the two proposed schemes simplify into a unified formulation. Furthermore, for the Benjamin-Bona-Mahony case, we provide strict proofs of convergence, linear stability, and conservation employing energy analysis and the Fourier analysis methods. The numerical results further highlight the outstanding accuracy, computational efficiency, and robustness of the proposed schemes.</p>