Follow us as we look to answer the question: “What is the Church Age and When will it End?”
The Church Age
As a matter of fact, the Church Age is the total length of time from the beginning of the New Testament Church until God instantaneously takes the Church out of the world. The beginning day of this Age was on the 50th day after the Lord Jesus was resurrected back to life from the dead. It is vitally important to remember—Christ was raised on the first day of the week—and then fifty days later, the Holy Spirit came to begin the Church—also on the first day of the week—Pentecost.
Acts 2:1-2
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit indwells the Church, both corporately and in each individual believer. The Spirit will remain in the world with the Church until the end of the Church Age. The Spirit’s presence continued to bring about many signs in the early days of the Age.
Acts 4:31
And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Assemble on the First Day of the Week
People from many nations were being persuaded by the Gospel message of Good News, but the early Church was made up mostly of converted Jews. They were accustomed to meeting in the Synagogues on the seventh day of the calendar week. Being moved to remember that the Lord Jesus was raised on the first day, they began to assemble on the first day of the week instead of the last day of the week, and this became a tradition as we read in Acts 20:7:
Acts 20:7a
Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread…
Deuteronomy 5:15
“And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.”
The very first sentence of the First Commandment seems also to have been forgotten:
Deuteronomy 5:6-7
“I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.”
The Lord’s Day in the Church Age
The Lord’s Day is the first day of the week in keeping with the tradition of the early Church based upon the first day of the week being the day of our redemption.
The first time, He appeared to His eleven disciples, who were assembled together again, was on the first day of the week.
John 20:19
Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
The End of the Church Age
Peter is pointing out to the believers that they are like “living stones”.
1 Peter 2:5a
you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house…
The Church Age will continue until the last “stone” has “come in.” Not even Jesus Himself knows the exact day or hour this will happen:
Matthew 24:36
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.”
This verse in Matthew is probably referring to the “taking up” (Rapture) of the Church.
Once the Church is “taken up” the Holy Spirit will stop restraining the lawless one and the seven-year Tribulation period will begin. This will end the Church Age.
2 Thessalonians 2:7
For the mystery of the lawlessness is already at work; only He [Spirit indwelling the Church] who now restrains will do so until He is taken [Raptured] out of the way.
Conclusion
So, we are currently living in the Church Age. As mentioned above in Matthew 24:36 no one knows when it will end except for the Father! However, when we look at the state of today’s world and society, it could lead us to believe that Jesus is coming soon! Come Lord Jesus!
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Rapture and the seven-year Tribulation Part 1
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Check Out these Interesting Resources:
“The Church” – A Discipleship Manual for the Body of Christ by Randy Amos
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