THE CHURCH DID NOT START AT PENTECOST

Doug said:

Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

Jesus, after his resurrection, spoke unto the twelve apostles of the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). The aspect of the kingdom of God Jesus spoke of was the kingdom of the Davidic covenant; the kingdom promised Israel to reign with Christ on earth (1 Chronicles 17:12 Daniel 7:18 Luke 1:32 Revelation 5:10). The apostles wanted to know if Jesus was about to restore the kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6).
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They were in one accord as well. The church here is not the body of Christ. The church here are the believers in Christ who were promised entrance into the kingdom on earth. The kingdom which is postponed and interrupted by our dispensation of Grace.

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Although I agree that Peter, in the book of Acts, was largely addressing the Jewish People, I don't think there should be any confusion between the restoration of Israel to the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of God as a heavenly rule.

The Kingdom always was based in heaven, and applied not just to Israel but to all of mankind. The promise God made to Abraham involved both Israel and a body of many nations. Israel will indeed be restored to the Kingdom of God. But also, many other nations have been added to the Kingdom of God.

The Kingdom of God has never fully been manifested on the earth, although Israel's Kingdom certainly contained elements of it. But when Christ returns, the Kingdom of God will be, in some sense, established on the earth. Satan will be bound, and all nations must, in some sense, submit to God's rule.

I don't claim to know what that will look like. But it will be something different from what we've ever had to date in history.

Doug said:

Yes, the kingdom of God comes down from heaven to earth.

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Thanks for the acknowledgement. I didn't really know where you stood on this.

Doug said:

Yes I am familiar with Acts 28, but as I said before, I do not hold to it.
Hope you are doing well.

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Hello @Doug

Yes, we have spoken about this before.
May God's word be the arbiter.

Take Care
In Christ Jesus
Chris

Truther said:

A Roman Catholic Church.

Don't you forget it.

In 1929 you guys tried to make the Vatican a tax free entity smack in the middle of the city of Rome.

That is the power the RCC has over the city of Rome.

The Pope says it, and by golly they do it.

No American city could ever pull that off.

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Vatican City is an Independent City State. It is not part of Rome.
It is surrounded by Italy so why do you not call it the Italian Catholic Church?
It is part of Europe so why do you not call it the European Catholic Church?
It is part of the world so why do you not call it the World Catholic Church?

The FACT is that that you do not decide on a name for a Church. A Church decides what it is called and the Catholic Church calls itself just that - Catholic Church.

Mungo said:

Vatican City is an Independent City State. It is not part of Rome.
It is surrounded by Italy so why do you not call it the Italian Catholic Church?
It is part of Europe so why do you not call it the European Catholic Church?
It is part of the world so why do you not call it the World Catholic Church?

The FACT is that that you do not decide on a name for a Church. A Church decides what it is called and the Catholic Church calls itself just that - Catholic Church.

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Actually, it is the Roman Catholic Church per The Bible.

The Bible described it as the whore that sits on 7 hills.

Don't deflect.

Randy Kluth said:

Although I agree that Peter, in the book of Acts, was largely addressing the Jewish People, I don't think there should be any confusion between the restoration of Israel to the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of God as a heavenly rule.

The Kingdom always was based in heaven, and applied not just to Israel but to all of mankind. The promise God made to Abraham involved both Israel and a body of many nations. Israel will indeed be restored to the Kingdom of God. But also, many other nations have been added to the Kingdom of God.

The Kingdom of God has never fully been manifested on the earth, although Israel's Kingdom certainly contained elements of it. But when Christ returns, the Kingdom of God will be, in some sense, established on the earth. Satan will be bound, and all nations must, in some sense, submit to God's rule.

I don't claim to know what that will look like. But it will be something different from what we've ever had to date in history.

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Great post.

If I may, the Kingdom to future Israel is the focus of God's O.T. promises, and we are just included in a partial, pre-millennial portion of that.

We only look at that future kingdom through a "welders mask" now.

Truther said:

Actually, it is the Roman Catholic Church per The Bible.

The Bible described it as the whore that sits on 7 hills.

Don't deflect.

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The Vatican doesn't sit on 7 hills and the Bible doesn't describe it as a whore.

Don't deflect.

Vatican City is an Independent City State. It is not part of Rome.
It is surrounded by Italy so why do you not call it the Italian Catholic Church?
It is part of Europe so why do you not call it the European Catholic Church?
It is part of the world so why do you not call it the World Catholic Church?

The FACT is that that you do not decide on a name for a Church. A Church decides what it is called and the Catholic Church calls itself just that - Catholic Church.

Mungo said:

The Vatican doesn't sit on 7 hills and the Bible doesn't describe it as a whore.

Don't deflect.

Vatican City is an Independent City State. It is not part of Rome.
It is surrounded by Italy so why do you not call it the Italian Catholic Church?
It is part of Europe so why do you not call it the European Catholic Church?
It is part of the world so why do you not call it the World Catholic Church?

The FACT is that that you do not decide on a name for a Church. A Church decides what it is called and the Catholic Church calls itself just that - Catholic Church.

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Rome is the city that sits on 7 hills. The only surviving world power per Rome is it's ecumenical power(RCC). It is the lone "Christian super power" and is depicted also in Daniel.

The Vatican is not on any of the seven hills of Rome. It's on the other side of the river Tiber from ancient Rome.

Vatican City is an Independent City State. It is not part of Rome.
It is surrounded by Italy so why do you not call it the Italian Catholic Church?
It is part of Europe so why do you not call it the European Catholic Church?
It is part of the world so why do you not call it the World Catholic Church?

The FACT is that that you do not decide on a name for a Church. A Church decides what it is called and the Catholic Church calls itself just that - Catholic Church.

Doug said:

Yes, the kingdom of God on earth during the millennial period is for the believing remnant of Israel.

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My own personal belief is that the whole nation will turn to Christianity, whereas a good part of the nation that is wicked will be destroyed by Jesus' Coming. The nation will have to rebuild.

But I think the same thing will happen for Christian nations. Although believing remnants from all nations will be transformed at the Coming of Christ, the nations that remain on earth will return to Christianity, and reform their practice.

In other words, the Millennium will comprise the rule of Christ across the whole world. That does not mean that all nations will be Christian or godly. But it does mean that sin will be managed by Christian law for a thousand years, before a new rebellion against Christ erupts.