Answer: The church is developed during the Gospel Age (item F shown in the chart above. This is the period from earthly ministry of Jesus until he returns and establishes his earthly kingdom.
Jesus as the head of the church and savior of the body was developed first during his earthly ministry. He is the “author and the perfecter” of the Christian’s faith. (Heb. 12:2 NASB)) His faithfulness unto death opened the way for the church to have a heavenly reward. (Heb. 6:19,20)
The apostle Paul writes in Heb. 5:8-10 (Phillips): “Son though he was, he had to provide the meaning of obedience through all that he suffered. Then, when he had proved the perfect Son, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who should obey him, being now recognized by God himself as High Priest after the order of Melchizadek.”
Because of his faithfulness unto death, God by his mighty power “raised Him [Jesus] from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, (21) far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” (Eph. 1:20,21 NASB) God gave Jesus the divine nature, immortality, or having life within himself. (John 5:26)
The church was developed beginning at Pentecost when the holy spirit came upon the apostles as Jerusalem. (Acts 2:1-41) Beginning that day, 3,000 were baptized into Christ. However, to receive the promised reward, the follower of Jesus must be called, chosen and faithful unto death following in Jesus’ life of sacrifice and being conformed to the image of God’s dear son. (Rev. 17:4; 2:10) Paul writes in Gal. 2:20 (NASB): “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
Only when they are faithful unto death, will an individual be qualified to receive the crown of life – immortality, the divine nature. (Rom. 2:7) Because the standards of Christ-likeness are so high, only 144,000 become fully developed, are faithful unto death and are rewarded. The glorified church is shown standing on Mt. Zion with the Lord’s and Father’s name written in their foreheads. (Rev. 14:1-5)
The development that began at Pentecost continues during the Gospel AGe until our Lord’s second advent. During the Gospel Age, as members of the church died, they “sleep in Jesus,” waiting for his return. (1 Thess. 4:14) The apostle Paul describes this in 2 Tim. 4:7,8 (NASB): “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; (8) in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” Paul was not resurrected immediately when he died but waited in death until the return of Jesus.
When Jesus returns in the harvest of the Gospel age, one of his first activities is to raise the members of the church sleeping in death. The apostle Paul writes:
“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep [in Jesus], so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. (14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. (15) For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. (16) For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. (17) Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.” (1 Thess. 4:13-17 NASB)
When the Lord returns, the dead in Christ are resurrected first. However, since their number is less than the 144,000 God has determined shall comprise the church, development of the church continues while our Lord is present until 144,000 are faithful unto death. Therefore, the development of the church is completed after our Lord has returned and before he establishes his earthly kingdom. The apostle Paul writes about this in 1 Cor. 15:51-53 (NASB): “Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep [in death], but we will all be changed [to spirit nature], (52) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead [in Christ] will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. (53) For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.”
For additional information, please see the related booklets and videos listed below:
Booklet The Church |
Video Bringing Life and Immortality to Light |
Video Buried With Him in Baptism |
Booklet Born of the Spirit |
Video Elect According to the Foreknowledge of God |
Video Can a Man Be Justified with God? |
Booklet The Grace of Jehovah |
Video The Sarah Feature of the Abrahamic Covenant |
Video Doctrine of Character Development |
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