THE BODY OF CHRIST
THE BEGINNING -
LESSON 3.
The Body in Prophecy
Many things that we know in the kingdom of God and are blessed to be the participants in the body of Christ were foreshadowed by God. The prophets of God were His mouthpieces for making known that which was previously unknown (both Old and New Testament). The Old Testament prophets and there work used two distinct formats. The first was the immediate need for which they had been sent to God's people (universally, this was to demand that they repent and return to God , right up to John the Baptist and the Lord in the flesh). The second format, and the one we will be looking into the most, was that of hope. This was usually given in the form of glimpses into the future Messianic kingdom and the blessings that would flow from it.
We have already established through the promises of God that the [body of Christ] would know:
- Blessings for all men through the Seed of Abraham – Genesis 12:1-3; Galatians 3:16; 26-29.
- A superior Prophet, who would speak that which would over-ride all before Him – Deuteronomy 18:15-19; Acts 3:22-23; 2 John 9.
- A King who would come from the seed of David in the flesh and would sit on an eternal throne, established by God – 2 Samuel 7:12-17; Luke 1:31-33; Romans 1:3-4.
- A sign would be given in preparation for the coming of His government; a virgin birth of a male child and that the government would be upon His shoulders, to establish it in judgment and justice – Isaiah 7:14; 9:6-7; Matthew 1:23; 1 Corinthians 3:11.
- A covenant worthy of this glorious kingdom and its citizens, written on their hearts for true forgiveness of transgressions – Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:7-13.
The work of the prophets of God would further enhance the hope to be given in advance of the coming of this kingdom:
Hebrews 11:13 “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”
1 Peter 1:10-11 “Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.”
Let's look at some of the very descriptive prophecies concerning the [body of Christ].
ISAIAH
Isaiah 2:2-4
“Now it shall come to pass in the
latter days That the mountain of the LORD's house Shall be
established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the
hills; And all nations shall flow to it.
3
Many people shall come and say,
“Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God
of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths.” For
out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
4
He shall judge between the
nations, And rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into
plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up
sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore."
See also: Micah 4:1-5.
Later Days: Rendered also as, “last days” and always refers to the reign of the Messiah; His kingdom – see: Daniel 2:44 (“and in the days of these kings” – Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzar's dream and a coming future kingdom); Joel 2:28-32 (Joel describes the coming of the events of Pentecost by stating that “it shall come to pass afterward”, and Peter as a New Testament prophet states that the events that transpired on the day of Pentecost were in fact “this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel” – Acts 2:16 , followed by, “And it will come to pass in the last days”), 2 Timothy 3:1 (Paul states that “in the last days”, not that they are coming, but are!), and Hebrews 1:2 (the Hebrew writer states that, “in these last days spoken to us by His Son”, present tense!).
Mountain of the Lord's House: The illustrative use of the term “mountain” is given in description of a government, power, and authority. It is in the context describing a kingdom! The additional illustrative language of it being God's house and its exaltation above other high points, demonstrates that it is not a kingdom of this world.
Hebrews 12:22-24 “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.”
From Jerusalem: In this illustrative prophecy, we additionally have a starting point given. A detail for the purpose of establishment and testimony; to know where and when it would begin and has come.
Luke 24:47 “and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
Acts 1:3-4
“to whom He also presented Himself
alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them
during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of
God.
4
And being assembled together with
them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but
to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you
have heard from Me”
DANIEL
Daniel 2:44 “And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.”
As a prophet of the Babylonian captivity, Daniel interprets the dreams of Nebuchadnezzar (king of Babylon), and he will also be given visions to coincide with those of the king. The backdrop of all these dreams and visions, is the arrogance of Nebuchadnezzar; “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for honor of my majesty” – 4:30.
Of course we know, that God would humble him to eat grass like oxen (4:32). Also, in the process of humbling him, God gave him dreams of kingdoms to come after his that would be superior, leading to a statement of the greatest kingdom ever, to supersede all these. In his dream, Babylon was the head of Gold on the great image (vs. 38).
Another kingdom would rise after that (vs. 39); said to be inferior. It would be better said as; your kingdom would be but an inferior part of it. This kingdom would be the kingdom of Media – Persia (described in Daniel's corresponding vision – 8:20), a kingdom unified by Cyrus (the great king), and made up of many kings and realms.
Still another kingdom would come after that, a kingdom of bronze (Daniel's corresponding vision would name this kingdom as Greece – 8:21).
An finally, another kingdom would come of iron and clay, that Daniel's vision would state as having a king (styled kings after this fashion) with fierce features and great cunning; but would know destruction apart from human effort or means (8:23-25). Although not named; we know this kingdom to be the Roman Empire.
It would be in the days of these final kings, that God would set up His everlasting kingdom, which would devour these other kingdoms (Isaiah stated that it would be without sword or spear – 2:4); literally existing from within the kingdoms of men, to supersede them.
ADDITIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ETERNAL KINGDOM
- Divine in its origin – Isaiah 9:6-7; Luke 1:32-33.
- It would be humble in its beginning, but grow in might. This would be demonstrated first in its King – Isaiah 28:16; Psalms 118:22-23; Acts 4:11. Then in the humble citizens to follow - Isaiah 54:13; 55:1-3; Luke 13:18-19; 20-21; John 6:44-45; Acts 1:8; Hebrews 8:10-12.
- Establishment, maintenance, and victory of the kingdom will not depend on earthly power or might – Isaiah 2:4; Hosea 2:18; Romans 8:35-39; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6.
- Isaiah 9:7 “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end” – Acts 2:41; 4:4; 5:14; 6:7; 11:21; 12:24; 19:20; 2 Peter 1:11.
- It would be universal in its extent – Psalms 72:17; Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Philippians 2:10; Colossians 1:19-23.
- It would be everlasting in its extent and never to be replaced – Psalms 72:17; 1 Corinthians 15:24.
Next: “The Body in Preparation”