The Church is not a continuation of the JEWISH DISPENSATION" under another name, nor does the Church edifice take the place of the Synagogue. It is because some religious bodies believe that the Christian Church is but another phase of what they call the JEWISH CHURCH," that they insist on a Ceremonial Ritual" and retain the Priesthood with its altar, vestments, etc, and Temple-like building; and call the ordinances of the Christian Church Sacrifices, and Sacraments," They also go further and advocate a State Church," with the Church as the head, and claim that all the Old Testament promises of riches and glory have been transferred from the Jew to the Church.

 

The Church is not to be confounded or mistaken with the Kingdom," The Church is compared to a House" ( 1 Tim.3.15). to a Temple" ( 1 Cor. 3.16.17). to a body" ( 1Cor. 12 27. 31). but never a KIngdom," Christ is the head" of His Church (Eph. 1.22.-4.15, Col. 1.18). but He is never spoken of as its KING. The Church is a MYSTERY" and was first revealed to Paul. Eph.3.1.11.

 

The Kingdom was no Mystery. The Old Testament prophets describe it in glowing terms. What they could not understand was, what was to come in between the Sufferings" and Glory" of Christ. 1 Pet. 1.9.12. That is, between the CROSS" and the CROWN," That the Gentiles were to be saved was no Mystery. Rom. 9.24.30. The Mystery was, that God was going to form an entirely NEW THING" composed of both JEWS and GENTILE," to be called the CHURCH."

 

The purpose of this Dispensation is seen in the Divine Program" outline by the Apostle James in his address to the first Church Council held at Jerusalem (Acts 15.13.18), where he declares that God has visited the Gentiles to take out of them A PEOPLE' for His NAME," The purpose of this Dispensation then is not the bringing in of the Kingdom, or the conversion of the world, but the gathering out of an elect body," the CHURCH.

 

THE CHURCH.....

 

The Church is not only a called out body," it is the BODY OF CHRIST," In Eph, 1.22.23, we read--- And God have put all things under His feet, and gave Him ( JESUS) to be the Head' over all things to the Church which is His BODY." The context shows (vs. 20) that this Headship" was not possible until Jesus had been raised from the dead, and seated at the right hand of the Father.

 

WHO belong TO the CHURCH?

 

If the Church had its origin at Pentecost and ends at the Rapture of the Saints" ( 1 THESS 4.14.17), then only those who are saved between those events belong to the Church. The Old Testament Saints are the Friends of the Bridegroom," but they are not the Bride," In Rev. 19.9 we read, Blessed are they which are called unto the Marriage Supper' of the Lamb," The Bride is not called" ( invited)  to be at her own wedding, she has a place there of her own right. The called" are the GUESTS,"The Old Testament Saints will be the GUESTS. as will also the Blood-washed Multitude" that will come out of the Tribulation , for they are not saved until after the Rapture of the Church. Rev.7.9.17.

 

THE MISSIOM OF THE CHURCH

 

As we have seen, the Church is not an ORGANIZATION" but an ORGANISM," Therefore it is not a Social Club," organized and supported solely for the benifit of its members. Neither is it a Place of Amusement" to pander to the carnal nature of man. Nor is it a House of Merchandise" for the sale of Indulgences," or other commodities, whereby the money of the ungodly can be secured to save the penurious church member a little selfsacrifice. Neither is it a Reform Bureau" to save the bodies of men.

 

The Church is not a form of Social Service, this is not the mission of the Church, the mission of the Church is to seek and save the Souls of men, The great mistake the Church has made is in appropriating to herself in this Dispensation the promises of earthly conquest and glory which belong exclusively to Israel in the Millenial Age." Alliance with the World," and seeks the help of Parliaments, Congresses, Legislatures, Federations and Reform Societies, largely made up of ungodly men and women, she loses her spirtaul power and becomes helpless as a redeeming force.

 

THE KINGDOM

 

It is clear from the Scriptures that God has been trying to set up a visible Kingdom on this earth ever since the creation of man, to whom He gave dominion. Gen 1.26.28. but that dominion was lost by the fall," and Satan set himself up as the prince of this World," Matt. 4.8.10. John 14.30.

 

In the call of Abraham" God took the first step toward the setting up of a visible Kingdom on this earth, which assumed an outward form in the Jewish Commonwealth" under Moses, but the plan was blocked by the Jews losing their National Existence" at the time of the Babylonian Captivity B.C. 606. and the beginning of the Time of the Gentiles." but when 600 years of the Times of the Gentiles had run their course. God again made a move to set up the Kingdom. and the Angel Gabrial announced to Mary the Birth of the King. Luke 1.26.33. Thirty years later the King's forerunner, John the Baptist, announced that the Kingdom was at hand (Matt. 3:1.2). and when the King manifested Himself to Isreal, He Himself made the same announcement (Matt. 4: 17.23), and later He sent out the twelve (Matt.l 10: 7), and the Seventy (Luke. 10: 1.l9) to proclaim the same thing. But the King was rejected and crucified, and the setting up of the Kingdom postponed, and the Kingdom took on its Mystery Form under the name of the Kingdom of Heaven.