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There is much talk going around these days about how unified, triumphant and glorious the Church will be in the end times right before the return of Jesus. This pollyanna image of the Church is certainly attractive, but it only partially corresponds with what the Bible prophesies.
But before we take a look at end time prophecies regarding the Church, let's take a look at the Church in Bible prophecy in the past and present.
Old Testament Prophecies
Some theologians take the position that the Church is not mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures. This is both right and wrong. It is correct that there is no specific mention of the Church. But, on the other hand, the Church is certainly intimated in a number of prophecies in the Old Testament.
The Apostle Paul referred to five of these prophetic passages in Romans 15 where he justified his preaching of the Gospel to Gentiles. He specifically quoted:
- 2 Samuel 22:50 and Psalm 18:49 — both of which speak of a time when God will be praised among the Gentiles (Romans 15:9).
- Deuteronomy 32:43 — which says a time will come when Gentiles will rejoice with the Jews (Romans 15: 10).
- Psalm 117:1 — which says there will be a day when the Gentiles will praise the God of the Jews (Romans 15:11).
- Isaiah 11:10 — which says when the Messiah comes ("the root of Jesse"), Gentiles will find hope in Him (Romans 15:12).
- Isaiah 52:15 — which says that one day the Gentiles will come to know and understand the Messiah (Romans 15: 21).
And these are only a few of the Old Testament prophecies about the future inclusion of Gentiles into God's Plan for the Ages. Isaiah 42:1 says the Messiah will bring "justice to the nations [Gentiles]" A few verses later, Isaiah proclaims that the Messiah will be "a light to the nations [Gentiles]" (Isaiah 42:6). Isaiah repeats this prophecy in Chapter 49 where he quotes God as saying that He will make the Messiah "a light to the nations [Gentiles] so that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth" (Isaiah 49:6b).
One of my favorite prophetic references to the future inclusion of Gentiles in God's kingdom is found in Isaiah 9:1-2 where the prophet says that one day God will make glorious the "Galilee of the Gentiles." Specifically, he states that "the people who walk in darkness will see a great light [the Messiah]." Another is found in Isaiah 54:1 where the prophet declares that a time will come when "the sons of the desolate one [the Gentiles] will be more numerous than the sons of the married woman [Israel]."
The cornerstone prophecy about the inclusion of Gentiles in God's plan of salvation is to be found in the Abrahamic Covenant, which is first enumerated in Genesis 12:1-3. In this passage, Abraham was told by God that through his descendants "all the families of the earth shall be blessed." That promise certainly included the Gentiles.
Fulfillment of the Prophecies
Although it was always possible for Gentiles to be saved during Old Testament times by responding to the Creator in faith (Joel 2:32 and Romans 2:14-15), their specific inclusion in God's Plan for the Ages did not occur until the Day of Pentecost in about 30 AD. This was when the Church was established. The Apostle Peter preached the first Gospel sermon (Acts 2:14-36), and three thousand souls responded.
It is true that all of these were Jews. It is true that the Church began with Jewish people responding to a Jewish message about a Jewish Messiah. And thus, the Church began as what appeared to be a Jewish sect. But within a few years of its establishment, the Church was opened up to Gentiles in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.
This began when the Apostle Peter was given a vision by God that made it clear that Gentiles were to be included in the Church (Acts 10:9-15). That same day, Peter was summoned to Caesarea Maritime to preach to a Roman soldier named Cornelius (Acts 10:19-22). When Paul shared the good news of salvation with this soldier, he and all his household received Jesus as Lord and Savior. The Holy Spirit fell on them, and they were baptized in the name of Jesus (Acts 10:34-48).
This turning-point event caused a crisis in the Church. Some questioned whether or not pagan Gentiles should be included. Others argued that if they were to be included, they must be required to submit to circumcision and the laws of the Torah.
These controversies resulted in a conference in Jerusalem where it was decided that it was God's will to include Gentiles (Acts 15:6-29). It was also determined that Gentiles should not be compelled to become practitioners of Jewish laws. In the process, Peter quoted a prophecy from the Hebrew Scriptures that envisioned a day when "the rest of Mankind would seek the Lord," including "all the Gentiles" (Acts 15:14-18 in reference to Amos 9:11-12).
Near the end of Paul's second missionary journey, after his arrival in Corinth, he became upset with the persistent resistance of the Jews to the Gospel. This frustration prompted him to declare, "From now on, I shall go to the Gentiles" (Acts 18:6). And over the next few years, the whole complexion of the Church changed from a Jewish sect to a Gentile congregation.
New Testament Prophecy
The first specific mention of the Church in prophecy is found in the New Testament in Matthew 16:18 where Jesus is recorded as having said: "Upon this rock I will build My Church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it." The context of this statement makes it clear that the "rock" Jesus was referring to was Peter's confession of Him as "the Christ [Messiah], the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16).
This prophecy has, of course, been fulfilled throughout history since the time Jesus spoke those words. Satan has tried in every way possible to destroy the Church, first through persecution, and then through internal corruption. But Jesus has sustained His Church to this day and continues to do so today in the midst of growing apostasy and increasing worldwide persecution.
I believe Jesus prophesied rather specifically about the future of His Church in the seven letters that He dictated to the Apostle John in Revelation, Chapters 2 and 3. The letters were directed to seven churches located in the area of western Turkey today. There were many more churches than these seven. I think Jesus selected the ones He did because they were representative of seven types of churches and seven periods of church history. In each period, all seven types of churches would exist, but one type would predominate.
To learn about the prophetic implications of the Seven Churches of Revelation and the glorious future of the Church, download the latest Lamplighter magazine.
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