ἐκκλησία (ekklēsia): THE CHURCH
Defined: The sum of all whom, having believed the Gospel, are baptized by the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ (Rom. 1:16; 6:3; 10:8-17; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; Eph. 2:8=9; Gal. 3:27; etc.).
There has recently been a number of Christians who have challenged the traditional teaching that the Church had its beginning on the Day of Pentecost, ten days following the Ascension of Jesus Christ. Their entire theory is based upon their interpretation of a single verse in the Book of Revelation. The verse, 12:5, reads as follows: "And she brought forth a man child, Who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to His throne." According to their theory, "she" is Israel, the "man child" is the Church, the Body of Christ, which they say, is taken up to heaven in the Rapture of the Church, to be joined together with its Head, Jesus Christ! They say that the Church was conceived on the day of Pentecost and will be born at the Rapture!
This view cannot be correct for several reasons: (1) the Book of Acts clearly teaches that the Church began in Acts 2; (2) the passage in Revelation takes place in the middle of the seven-year Tribulation (see verse 6), while the Rapture takes place prior to the Tribulation (Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Th. 1:10; 4:13-18; 5:9; etc.); (3) Revelation Chapters 6-19 describe the Tribulation, and the Church Age is not mentioned after Chapter three; and (4) logically speaking, the theory rejects the teachings that show Jesus ascended as a complete, both head and body, Person (Jn. 20:24-28; Acts 1:1-11; etc.)!
Here is what the Book of Acts has to say about the location of the Church while our Lord is seated in heaven (Acts 2:30; 7:55-56; Heb. 8:1; 12:2; Rev. 3:21; etc.):
Acts 2:41-47 - In Acts 2:22-36, Peter had preached the Gospel message and "Then they that gladly received his Word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved."
Acts 8:1-4 - "And Saul was consenting unto his (Stephen's) death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the Church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havoc of the Church, entering into every house, and haling (dragging) men and women, committed them to prison. Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the Word."
Acts 11:25-26 - "Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the Church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch."
Acts 14:27 - "And when they (Paul and Barnabas) were come, and had gathered the Church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how He had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles."
Acts 16:4-5 - "And as they (Paul and Silas) went through the cities, they delivered (to) them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily."
Acts 20:28 - "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers, to feed the Church of God, which He has purchased with His own blood."
1 Peter 1:18-23 - "...ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: being (present tense - existing having already been) born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, Who lives and abides forever.
NEVER BASE A DOCTRINE UPON A SINGLE VERSE;
ALWAYS INTERPRET SCRIPTURE BY COMPARING IT
WITH THE REST OF SCRIPTURE!
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