Featured The Church Not a Mystery

The OP is rather long and it is obvious some have not bothered to read it. I present a part of it here so that these folks can see what God revealed through the Jewish high priests and the Apostle John.
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I would suggest for those interested: Pay particular attention to verses 51 and 52. Did Caiaphas realize that he was being used by God in his remarks and his plot. Obviously not. [Acts 2:23] But note again what these two verses tell us:

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.

He prophesied, he didn't realize it, but he prophesied. What?

1. That Jesus Christ should die for the Jews!

2. And that Jesus Christ die for all the Children of God scattered abroad.

3. And that all the Children of God should be gathered together in ONE.

Now whatever anyone wants to call that ONE, and Jesus Christ calls it His Church, there is only ONE composed of both Jew and Gentile. The Mystery is not as mysterious as some want to make it.

The passages I presented from the Old Testament and their fulfillment in the New Testament show that the Church was not unknown in Old Testament prophecy!

 

mandym

Before getting too bold you should spend some time meditating on Ephesians 3:5 and not just reproduce it.

 

That sounds like hyper dispensationalism to me! I believe there is only One Gospel and One Church consisting of the redeemed throughout time!

 

I can't. I don't understand how anyone can. However, the doctrine that the Church is a "parenthesis", an "interruption", in God's plan for Israel is deeply ingrained in classic dispensational thought, at least the thought of their theologians.

I suspect that most of those who claim to be dispensationalists are unaware of this doctrine of the Church but are only the Rapture Ready brand. I have attempted to question dispensationalists in my area about the doctrine of the "parenthesis" Church. Those who should know won't respond, others give you a blank stare, even though they might mention Daniel's 70th week!

 

That is the way I read it!

 

As I have noted earlier the OP is long and it appears some have not bothered to read it. I reproduce a part of it here so that these folks can see what God revealed through the Apostle John concerning His sheep.

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Many are fond of quoting the Apostle Paul to defend the “mystery Church”. But consider what Paul tells us concerning the Jews and Gentiles in the Church:

Ephesians 2:11-22
11. Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12. That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
13. But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15. Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16. And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17. And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20. And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21. In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22. In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.


In this passage we see God give the Apostle Paul an exposition on the declaration by Jesus Christ that He had sheep other than the Jews and that He would bring both into one fold. That fold is the Church

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.

The Apostle Paul tells us that these other sheep are Gentiles who were without Christ, having no hope, and without God in the world. But now both they and the Jews are reconciled unto God in one body, the Church, by the blood of Jesus Christ. God does this by breaking down the middle wall of partition between Jew and Gentile.

Sadly those who embrace classic dispensationalism would rebuild that wall in their jewish millennium with its temple and bloody sacrifices.

 

It seems that these people really torture Scripture to defend their indefensible doctrine!

 

As stated in the OP it is a bedrock doctrine of Classic Dispensationalism that the Church was not revealed in prophecy at all!

That belief is totally inconsistent with Scripture posted in the OP which references Old Testament prophecy by Amos and Hosea and shows their fulfillment in the New Testament. The Apostle Peter expands on those prophecies shortly after Pentecost, following the healing of a crippled man.

Acts 3:12-26
12. And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?
13. The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
14. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
15. And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
16. And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
17. And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
18. But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
19. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
20. And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
21. Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
22. For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
23. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
24. Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.
25. Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
26. Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

Please note in verse 24 what Peter says: Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.

Peter says that that all the prophets from Samuel announced the events of Pentecost, which some dispensationalists concede was the beginning of the Church.