The Church In The Old Testament
(by Bob Pulliam)
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While the church did not exist in Old Testament times, it was foreknown, and foretold by God. In This lesson we want to see what God told mankind about the church before the first century.
The Church was Foreknown and Foretold...Daniel foretold, through the dream of Nebuchadnezzar, that the kingdom God would establish in the days of the Roman Empire (Dan 2:44f). In that dream, four kingdoms are seen (Babylonian; Medo-Persian; Macedonian (Grecian); Roman). What was established during the time of the fourth kingdom?... The church (Acts). This is the kingdom which would be established "in the days of those kings".
Paul told the Ephesians that Salvation in Christ Jesus was in God's plan "from the foundation of the world" (Eph 1:3f). When Jesus came, he established the church and made it the refuge of salvation (Acts 20:28; Col 1:13f; Eph 5:23 & 26f). The eternal purpose of God is made manifest in the church (Eph 3:10f).
As we found in a previous lesson, the word "church" comes from a Greek word. Greek was not the language of the day during the time that the Old Testament was being written. The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew, and a little of it in Aramaic. It was just a couple of hundred years before Jesus came, that the Old Testament was translated into Greek. Since Greek was not in widespread use, and the word "church" comes from a Greek word, we should not be surprised that the word "church" never occurs in the Old Testament. Daniel 2 tells us what the "church" was called in Old Testament prophecy... It was called "the kingdom".
Prophecies of the Church in the Old Testament...The prophecy of Daniel 2 is extremely important from two standpoints:
1) It identifies the church as the kingdom when linked together with Matthew 16:18f.
2) It identifies the time that the kingdom (church) would be established (the time of the Roman empire).
The prophecy of Isaiah 2:1-4 identifies the following aspects of the coming kingdom (church):
1) It would come about in the last days (see Joel 2:28 and Acts 2:16 to see that the last days have come (according to the apostle Peter).
2) It would come to pass in Jerusalem (Zion, the mountain of the house of the Lord).
3) Many nations would become involved in it's establishment (see Acts 2:5ff).
4) The kingdom would be characterized by peace.
This peace was not a description of a world order, but of the kingdom established. As we look at the church of God's design, we see an organization of peace that cannot make war! Only when the church is twisted into an organization of man's devising can it make war. These characteristics are also prophesied in Micah 4:1ff.
The prophecy of Isaiah 11:1-10 is very widely misused by people. It tells us the following:
1) The kingdom would come to pass through the house of David (root of Jesse).
2) Truth and righteousness will characterize the kingdom He will establish.
3) It will be a kingdom of peace, rather than one of turmoil and treachery.
4) The Gentiles will seek the Lord (indicating access for the uncircumcised).
Conclusion...Other prophecies can be found in the writings of the prophets, but these quickly indicate that God had the church planned out before He brought it to pass in His Son. As we continue to study the church that Jesus built, we will find these characteristics clearly displayed in the descriptions offered in the New Testament.
While the church did not exist in Old Testament times, it was foreknown, and foretold by God. In This lesson we want to see what God told mankind about the church before the first century.
The Church was Foreknown and Foretold...Daniel foretold, through the dream of Nebuchadnezzar, that the kingdom God would establish in the days of the Roman Empire (Dan 2:44f). In that dream, four kingdoms are seen (Babylonian; Medo-Persian; Macedonian (Grecian); Roman). What was established during the time of the fourth kingdom?... The church (Acts). This is the kingdom which would be established "in the days of those kings".
Paul told the Ephesians that Salvation in Christ Jesus was in God's plan "from the foundation of the world" (Eph 1:3f). When Jesus came, he established the church and made it the refuge of salvation (Acts 20:28; Col 1:13f; Eph 5:23 & 26f). The eternal purpose of God is made manifest in the church (Eph 3:10f).
As we found in a previous lesson, the word "church" comes from a Greek word. Greek was not the language of the day during the time that the Old Testament was being written. The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew, and a little of it in Aramaic. It was just a couple of hundred years before Jesus came, that the Old Testament was translated into Greek. Since Greek was not in widespread use, and the word "church" comes from a Greek word, we should not be surprised that the word "church" never occurs in the Old Testament. Daniel 2 tells us what the "church" was called in Old Testament prophecy... It was called "the kingdom".
Prophecies of the Church in the Old Testament...The prophecy of Daniel 2 is extremely important from two standpoints:
1) It identifies the church as the kingdom when linked together with Matthew 16:18f.
2) It identifies the time that the kingdom (church) would be established (the time of the Roman empire).
The prophecy of Isaiah 2:1-4 identifies the following aspects of the coming kingdom (church):
1) It would come about in the last days (see Joel 2:28 and Acts 2:16 to see that the last days have come (according to the apostle Peter).
2) It would come to pass in Jerusalem (Zion, the mountain of the house of the Lord).
3) Many nations would become involved in it's establishment (see Acts 2:5ff).
4) The kingdom would be characterized by peace.
This peace was not a description of a world order, but of the kingdom established. As we look at the church of God's design, we see an organization of peace that cannot make war! Only when the church is twisted into an organization of man's devising can it make war. These characteristics are also prophesied in Micah 4:1ff.
The prophecy of Isaiah 11:1-10 is very widely misused by people. It tells us the following:
1) The kingdom would come to pass through the house of David (root of Jesse).
2) Truth and righteousness will characterize the kingdom He will establish.
3) It will be a kingdom of peace, rather than one of turmoil and treachery.
4) The Gentiles will seek the Lord (indicating access for the uncircumcised).
Conclusion...Other prophecies can be found in the writings of the prophets, but these quickly indicate that God had the church planned out before He brought it to pass in His Son. As we continue to study the church that Jesus built, we will find these characteristics clearly displayed in the descriptions offered in the New Testament.