It is a bedrock doctrine of Classic Dispensationalism 1. that the Church was not revealed in prophecy at all and 2. that the inclusion of Gentile believers with Jewish believers in the Church was first revealed to the Apostle Paul. I believe that Scripture, properly understood, shows this to be false doctrine. Furthermore, the insistence of classic dispensationalism on the truth of those doctrines has unnecessarily splintered the Church and caused much ill will among the Saints as is routinely shown on this Forum. Thankfully, as I understand it, progressive dispensational doctrine has reexamined those beliefs and come to different conclusions.
Consider the following:
Jesus Christ has raised His friend Lazarus from the dead. Scripture continues with the story.
John 11:45-52.
45. Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.
46. But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.
47. Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.
48. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.
49. And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,
50. Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
51. And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;
52. And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
The high priest were rightly concerned that because Jesus Christ had raised Lazarus all men will believe on him and the Romans won’t like it. Their solution: Jesus Christ must die! Then look very carefully what Scripture tells us: Caiaphas, being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. Jesus Christ is to die, not for the Jews only, but to gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. Who are the Children of God scattered abroad. They are those chosen by God before the foundation of the world unto Salvation in Jesus Christ, Jew and Gentile. And Please Note: They are to be gathered together in one body, contrary to the insistence of some that this revelation was for the ear of the Apostle Paul only!
It is worth noting at this point that the name “Children of God” does not appear in the Old Testament, period.
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Now consider the following Scripture, again from the Gospel of John. [From Chapter 9 we learn that Jesus Christ has healed a blind man on the Sabbath and is, therefore confronted by the Pharisees.]
John 10:11-16
10. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
12. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
13. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
14. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
15. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
Note in particular Verse 16: And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
Now who are the other sheep? Obviously some have and will deny that the reference is to Gentiles. However, as shown from the Scripture John 11:52 God has other Children scattered abroad. Those Children, those sheep, can only be Gentiles!
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But folks this is not new. In the Old Testament we see on occasion that God calls other than those of Israel to Himself: Job, Rahab, Ruth, Nineveh. But it doesn’t stop there.
The classic dispensationalist insists that there is no prophecy related to the Church in the Old Testament, and particularly no prophecy of Jew and Gentile being gathered together in one body. But consider a passage from the Prophet Hosea:
Hosea 2:23. And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.
Now it is entirely possible that one reading the Old Testament would not necessarily understand this Revelation given to Hosea. But folks we have the New Testament. Consider what the Apostle Paul says about the Revelation given to Hosea:
Romans 9:25, 26
25. As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
26. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.
God tells us through the Apostle Paul, what was prophesied by Hosea, what was confirmed by the Apostle John. The Church, including both Jew and Gentile, was no Mystery in Old Testament prophecy and it was no Mystery to the Apostles.
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Now consider Scripture from the Book of Amos.
Amos 9:11. In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:
When is that day? Is it yet to come? Not at all. Simply hear what the James the Brother of our Lord Jesus Christ tells us after Peters account of the conversion of the Gentile Cornelius.
Acts 15:3-18
13. And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
14. Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
15. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
16. After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
17. That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
18. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
We see that James applies the Prophecy of Amos to the conversion of the Gentile Cornelius. Therefore, it is false to say that there was no prophecy related to the calling of the Gentiles into the Church.
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Scripture shows that the classic dispensational doctrine:
1. That the Church was not revealed in prophecy at all. and
2. That the inclusion of Gentile believers with Jewish believers in the Church was first revealed to the Apostle Paul.
is false doctrine.
People, the church is such a mystery that even today after 2000 years of proof the Jew still does not recognize it in their scripture and the gentile thinks is foolishness. It only revealed to the elect and to the rest it is a mystery.