The Church Age
This article explores topics and excerpts from the newly released book Journey Through the Bible and Your Story, now available on Amazon.
The Church Age began in Acts 2 around 30-33 AD when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples gathered in Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost. Empowered by the Spirit, Peter preached the gospel and 3,000 people were saved that day (Acts 2:41). This marked the beginning of the Christian Church as a spiritual body distinct from Judaism. The early church experienced rapid growth as the apostles continued preaching, performing signs and wonders, and writing Scripture (Acts 2:47). The expansion of the church is fulfilling Jesus’ Great Commission that the gospel be spread to and beyond Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8)
It is called the Church Age because it covers the period in which the Church is on earth. In prophetic history, it falls between the 69th and 70th weeks of Daniel (Daniel 9:24-27; Romans 11). The Church Age fulfills biblical prophecies in various ways. First, it fulfills the promise made to Abraham that through his descendants, all nations would be blessed (Genesis 12:3). The Church, composed of believers from every nation, represents the fulfillment of this promise. Furthermore, the Church Age fulfills the prophecy given by the prophet Joel, as quoted by Peter on the day of Pentecost: “And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh” (Acts 2:17). This outpouring of the Holy Spirit marked the beginning of the Church Age and the fulfillment of God’s promise to empower His people.
Jesus predicted the Church Age in Matthew 16:18 when He said, “I will build my church.” Jesus has kept His promise, and His Church has now been growing for almost 2,000 years through the empowerment of His Spirit.
The Church is composed of those individuals (Jews and Gentiles) who have by faith accepted Christ Jesus as their Savior and Lord (John 1:12; Acts 9:31). Therefore, the Church is people rather than denominations or buildings. It is the Body of Christ of which He is the head (Ephesians 1:22-23). The Greek word ecclesia, translated “church,” means “a called-out assembly.” The Church is universal in scope but meets locally in smaller bodies.
The Church Age is the period that the Holy Spirit indwells all believers. For the first time in history, God actually indwells His creatures, permanently and eternally. In prior times the Holy Spirit was always present and always at work, but He would come upon people temporarily (e.g., 1 Samuel 16:14). The Church Age is marked by the Holy Spirit’s permanent indwelling of His people (John 14:16).
Scripture makes a distinction between the nation of Israel and the Church (1 Corinthians 10:32). There is some overlap because, individually, many Jews believe in Jesus as their Messiah and are therefore part of the Church. But God’s covenants with the nation of Israel have not yet been fulfilled. Those promises await fulfillment during the Millennial Kingdom, after the Church Age ends (Ezekiel 34; 37; 45; Jeremiah 30; 33; Matthew 19:28; Revelation 19).
The Church Age will end when God’s people are raptured out of the world (foretold in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) and taken to be with the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:51-57). The rapture will be followed in heaven by the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:6-9) as the Church, the Bride of Christ, receives her heavenly reward. Until then, the Church carries on in hope, exhorted to “stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
During the Church Age, Satan has been actively working to deceive and oppose all efforts to glorify God. In failing to conquer Christ through death, Satan continued to try to destroy the apostles as they spread the good news of Jesus Christ.
1. Matthew suffered martyrdom in Ethiopia, killed by a sword wound.
2. Mark died in Alexandria, Egypt, after being dragged by horses through the streets.
3. Luke was hanged in Greece because of his tremendous preaching to the lost.
4. John faced martyrdom when he was boiled in huge basin of boiling oil during a wave of persecution in Rome. However, he was miraculously delivered from death.
John was then sentenced to the mines on the prison Island of Patmos. He wrote his prophetic Book of Revelation on Patmos. The apostle John was later freed and returned to serve as Bishop of Edessa in modern Turkey. He died as an old man, the only apostle to die peacefully.
5. Peter was crucified upside down on an x shaped cross. According to church tradition it was because he told his tormentors that he felt unworthy to die in the same way that Jesus Christ had died.
6. James the half-brother of Jesus was not one of the original disciples but became one after Jesus’ resurrection. The leader of the church in Jerusalem, was thrown over a hundred feet down from the southeast pinnacle of the Temple when he refused to deny his faith in Christ. When they discovered that he survived the fall, his enemies beat James to death with a fuller's club. This was the same pinnacle where Satan had taken Jesus during the Temptation.
7. James the son of Zebedee was a fisherman by trade when Jesus called him to a lifetime of ministry. As a strong leader of the church, James was beheaded in Jerusalem. The Roman officer who guarded James was amazed as James defended his faith at his trial. Later, the officer walked beside James to the place of execution. Overcome by conviction, he declared his new faith to the judge and knelt beside James to accept beheading as a Christian.
8. James the son of Alphaeus remains a mysterious but important disciple. His quietness in Scripture contrasts sharply with his status as an apostle. It was believed that his preaching was in Jerusalem and was stoned to death there.
9. Bartholomew (Also known as Nathaniel) was a missionary to Asia. He witnessed for our Lord in present day Turkey. Bartholomew was martyred for his preaching in Armenia where he was flayed to death by a whip.
10. Andrew was crucified on an x-shaped cross in Patras, Greece. After being whipped severely by seven soldiers, they tied his body to the cross with cords to prolong his agony. His followers reported that, when he was led toward the cross, Andrew saluted it in these words, "I have long desired and expected this happy hour. The cross has been consecrated by the body of Christ hanging on it". He continued to preach to his tormentors for two days until he expired.
11. Thomas was stabbed with a spear in India during one of his missionary trips to establish the church in the Subcontinent.
12. Jude was killed with arrows when he refused to deny his faith in Christ.
13. Matthias was chosen to replace the traitor Judas Iscariot. He was stoned and then beheaded.
14. Paul was tortured and then beheaded by the evil Emperor Nero in Rome in A.D. 67. Paul endured a lengthy imprisonment, which allowed him to write his many epistles to the churches he had formed throughout the Roman Empire. These letters, which taught many of the foundational Doctrines of Christianity, form a large portion of the New Testament.
Instead of stopping the spread of the Gospel, all endeavors by Satan and his demonic followers continue to fail. However, as we observe in the world today Satan is still active in His efforts. The Bible describes Satan as the "father of lies" (John 8:44) and warns that deception will increase as the Church Age progresses (2 Timothy 3:13). One of Satan’s primary strategies is disguising himself as an "angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14), making false teachings and distortions of the gospel appear appealing. He seeks to blind people to the truth of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:3-4) and uses deception to prepare the world for the rise of the Antichrist (Revelation 17:6). Despite his influence, Satan’s power is ultimately limited by God. However, believers are still warned to remain vigilant, as Satan continues to tempt, accuse, and attempt to lead people away from faith (Luke 22:31).
The Church Age impacts the understanding of the end times by highlighting the urgency of proclaiming the Gospel and the imminence of Christ’s return. The Church Age teaches believers to be watchful and ready for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, as the end of this age signifies the fulfillment of prophecy and the final judgment. However, the Church Age also emphasizes the responsibility of believers to bring God’s Kingdom to earth as much as possible in the present age. This involves living lives marked by love, justice, and compassion, as we eschatologically anticipate the ultimate fulfillment of all things.
The Church Age is a crucial period in biblical history that encompasses the establishment and ongoing work of the Church. It is a time of fulfillment, empowerment, and mission as believers strive to spread the Gospel and make disciples, all the while being in a spiritual war with Satan and his followers. The apostles, who died terrible physical deaths, did not focus on their temporal situations but stayed focused on eternity with Christ. For three years they traveled with Jesus and then witnessed His death on the cross. They lived with the promise that they too will live again in resurrected bodies just like their resurrected Lord (Philippians 3:20-21). Having the mindset of the apostles and understanding the significance of the Church Age encourages us to take an active role in the overall purposes of God while having an eternal perspective.
