THE POPULAR ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIBLE PROPHECY

CHURCH AGE Part II

THE PROPHETIC DESTINY OF THE CHURCH

The Bible consistently warns church-age believers to be on guard against apostasy. This characteristic is a general sign of the end times. But what is the prophetic future of the church? To answer this question, we must separate the true church in particular from christendom in general.The true church is made up of Jews and Gentiles who genuinely know Christ as their saviour and have their sins forgiven. Beginning on the day of pentecost in Acts 2 and continuing to the Rapture, all believers are part of Christ’s body, theChurch. We call the realm of the professing Church’s influence Christendom. Christendom constitutes everything associated with the visible church, including all of its branches. Christendom includes true believers and mere professors, the wheat and the tares growing up together ( Matthew 13:24-30 ). The true Church and Christendom have very different prophetic destinies.

THE RAPTURE AWAITS THE CHURCH

The Next event on the prophetic calendar for the true church is the rapture( John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 thessalonians 4:13-18). This event is describe in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, which say it will be at a time in which all living and dead believers “will be caught up….. in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” This event could happen at any moment, without warning. While Christ is preparing a place for the church, the Church is to remain faithful while constantly watching for his unannounced return. When the father gives the signal, the shout will go forth, and the Church age will be Completed at the rapture, and we will always be with the lord.

JUDGMENT AWAITS APOSTATE CHRISTENDOM

However, apostate Christendom will be left behind to enter the Tribulation period and serve as satan harlot– “the great harlot who sits on many waters”( Revelation 17:1 )— Who will help facilitate the great delusion of Antichrist. This apostate Church will pave the way for a one world religion- the worship of Antichrist and reception of the mark of the beast ( Revelation 13:16-18 ). Revelation 13:11-18 present the False Prophet ( the head of the apostate during the Tribulation) as the one who is advocating, on behalf of the Antichrist, reception of the mark of the beast. Just as the true church has its role of declaring and making clear the truth of God, so satan’s harlot has a leading role in fostering his deception.

THE CHURCH IS SEPARATE FROM ISRAEL

The Church is unique in the plan of God and separate from his plan for Israel. The Church partake of the spiritual promises of the Abrahamic covenants as fulfilled through christ, but Israel and not the church will fulfill its national destiny as a separate entity. This will occur after the Rapture and Tribulation, during the millennium. The New testament teaches that the church was a unrevealed mysteries in the Old testament (Romans 16:25-26; Ephesians 3:2-10; Colossians 1:25-27), Which is why she began suddenly and with out warning in Act 2, and why this age will end suddenly and without warning at the rapture. Therefore, the church has no earthly prophetic destiny beyond the rapture.

THE JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST

The New Testament teaches that the church will be removed at the rapture before the Tribulation begins ( 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9; Revelation 3:10) and taken by christ to the father House ( John 14:1-3 ). It will be in heaven during the tribulation, as represented by the 24 elders ( Revelation 4:4-11; 7:13-14; 19:4). There believers will stand before the Judgement seat of Christ in preparation ( Revelation 19:4-10, 19) to accompany Christ at His descent at the second coming ( Revelation 19:14). The marriage supper of the Lamb will take place at the beginning of the millennium, after the second coming.

THE MILLENNIUM AND THE ETERNAL STATE

During the millennium, the church will reign and rule with christ ( Revelation 3:21). In Matthew 19:28, Jesus told his disciples, who are members of the church, that they would join Him in the kingdom and reign over the 12 tribes of Israel. In 2 Timothy 2:12, Paul writes, “If we endure, we will also reign with Him. The primary purpose of the millennium is the restoration of Israel and Christ’s rule over it, but the church as the bride of christ will be involved in millennial activities. —– THOMAS ICE

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Chafer, Lewis Sperry. Systematic Theology. 8 Volumes Dallas, TX : Dallas Seminary Press, 1948.

Fruchtenbaum, Arnold G. The foot steeps of the messiah, San Antonio TX Ariel Press, 1982

Pember, G.H. The great prophecies of the centuries concerning the church, miami Spring FL. Conley and Schoettle, 1984.

Pentecost J. Dwight Things to Come Grand Rapids Zondervan. 1958.