Churches in the Bible | Rightly Dividing Basics

The word "church" basically means "congregation". There is more than one church in the Bible. Church can be in reference to a specific assembly or to the whole group of believers in each dispensation. 

The first church was the "church in the wilderness." This was referring to Israel. 

Acts 7:37-38 says,

37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.

38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:

The next church is the church in Israel's program who are mostly yet future (a continuation of Israel's program). In Matthew- Acts they were also referred to sometimes as "the little flock" believers but also are yet future and referred to as the 7 churches in Revelation. This church will inherit the earth and will rule and reign with Christ on the earth during the millennial kingdom and thereafter. These saints will be resurrected into the kingdom after the 7 year tribulation on earth and the 2nd coming of Christ to the earth. 

Mat 16:18 KJV - 

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Act 2:47 KJV - 

47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

The churches in the book of the revelation are yet future. All of the book of the revelation is future prophecy that is yet to be fulfilled. 

Revelation 1:20

20The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

These churches are NOT the church the Body of Christ. This is because the church the Body of Christ was a secret kept hid in God until it was revealed to our Apostle Paul and he was the first member saved into that (our) church. 

1Ti 1:16 KJV - 

16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

So the next church is the church the Body of Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ is the head of the church the Body of Christ and each believer today in the dispensation of grace is a member of his body. 

Col 1:18 KJV - 

18 And he [Jesus Christ] is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Eph 3:10 KJV - 

10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

Col 1:24 KJV - 

24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:

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