The Church and Prophecy

From: The Christian Shepherd: 2002 By: Nicolas Simon

• 2 min. read • grade level: 8

The church was not, and is not, the subject of prophecy. Prophecy is occupied with God’s dealing in government on the earth, at the center of which is Israel. It is important for believers to understand this, else much in the Bible will cause confusion. The church is an entity quite distinct from Israel: “Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God” (1 Cor. 10:32³²Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: (1 Corinthians 10:32)).

In Matthew we find that the church was a future thing. Peter was but a stone (“Peter” in Greek is petros, a “stone”); Christ is the Rock. He is the builder, and the building is His. It is perfect; the gates of hell cannot prevail against it (Matt. 16:15-18¹⁵He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? ¹⁶And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. ¹⁷And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. ¹⁸And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:15‑18)).

Scripture also presents a view of the church in relation to human responsibility. Paul as a wise master-builder laid the foundation—Jesus Christ—upon which others build, not only gold, silver and precious stones, but also wood, hay and stubble (1 Cor. 3:10-12¹⁰According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. ¹¹For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹²Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; (1 Corinthians 3:10‑12)).

The decay that has come in is spoken of in the Epistles of John, Jude and 2 Peter. In the addresses to the seven churches in Revelation we have a view of the church in its various phases of decline. However, it is not the church itself that is the subject of prophecy, but the moral ruin of Christendom in this earthly scene. While the bride, “a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing” (Eph. 5:27²⁷That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:27)), will be called away at the rapture, the empty profession that remains (the great harlot; Rev. 17:1 JnD) will be spewed out of His mouth (Rev. 3:16¹⁶So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:16)). The Lord will then again take up Israel—the natural branches (Israel) being grafted into their own olive tree (Rom. 11:24²⁴For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? (Romans 11:24)).

N. Simon

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