“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars” (Revelation 12:1).

The apostle John was privileged to see a glorious vision of this woman in the firmament of heaven, resplendent in illustrious light. The visions recorded in Revelation are often figurative in nature to bear out vital truths. Symbolically, a woman is representative of a church–whether false or true. In this vision, the woman was depicted as pure for she was clothed with the sun. She represents the purity and glory of the apostolic church. It is in direct contrast to the apostate church represented in later visions by a harlot–a woman unfaithful to her husband.

The woman in this vision is standing on the moon. The moon has no light of itself but reflects only a small percentage of the true light given by the sun. The moon is an apt symbol of the Old Testament Covenant which was a “shadow of good things to come” (Hebrews 10:1). The covenant was a schoolmaster and teacher to bring us unto Christ (Galatians 3:24-26). It pointed forward to something better to come.Read more

“For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth” (Isaiah 62:1).

The study this quarter is on the subject of ‘The Church’. My heart’s desire is that every honest person would get a vision of the beauty of God’s true church. The majority of religious institutions and fellowships have watered down the truth so much that people need not “take up their cross daily” as the Lord taught. Serving the Lord is a narrow, holy way but it is a good way. It is the way that leads to power and victory. Allowing the reality of God’s church to be in our life and fellowship brings freedom and liberty to worship in “spirit and in truth.”Read more

Scripture Reading:

…And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Acts 2:47

Summary:

The church is a divine institution founded by Christ, led by the Spirit, and the Word of God is the rule of faith. The Biblical church —The Church of God, is composed of all believers who are saved from their sins.

Definition:

The word ‘church’ comes from the Greek word ‘ekklesia’ which means ‘congregation‘ or ‘called out.’Read more

The Church Is a Divine Institution of God

The practical truths on the subject of the church illuminate God’s will and purpose for us in this life and reveal much of the fallacy of religious institutions in society. The world has been inundated with religions and churches of all different standards and belief systems. While many people today espouse the theory to “attend the church of your choice,” the Bible teaches that there is only one narrow way that leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14).

Definition of ‘Church’

The first mention of the word church in the Bible is found in Matthew 16:18. “…Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” The word church is a translation of the Greek word ekklesia which means ‘called out.’ The scripture uses the word church again in Acts 2:47. “…And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” The church is not a building or a place of worship but is composed of individuals who have been saved from their sin. True people of God have been ‘called out’ of sin, the world, religions, etc. They are in fellowship with God and in unity with the Spirit, walking in the faith of the Word of God.Read more

The church that I attend does not teach all of the truth found in the Bible. What should I do?

This is a serious and weighty question that deserves a very careful answer as many people find themselves in the given situation. It is important to first recognize that the Church of God is a divine church. Everyone that is saved from their sin through Jesus Christ is part of that true church (Acts 2:47).

Attending services at a congregation of any denomination or by any name does not bring someone into the divine institution of the church. People, anywhere in the world, that repent of their sins gain entrance into the church. They may identify themselves with a ‘group’ but that isn’t what God is recognizing. That person is in the Church of God whether they know it or not, as God recognizes the condition of their heart and life.Read more