The Jews expected the Messiah, but He took them by surprise when He came. Why? They had focused on fleshly matters; but Jesus came with a spiritual focus. In the same way, many people are surprised by the church in the New Testament. They think God’s prophetic plan points to the greatness of fleshly Israel, and says nothing at all about the spiritual family called “the church.” They reason this way: “God foretold the coming of a kingdom. But Jesus came and started the church instead. Therefore the kingdom must have been delayed or postponed until a later time.” If God’s plan is likened to a railway line, they see fleshly Israel as the main train on God’s track. But that train has been delayed for a while, and pulled over to a siding. Meanwhile a train called “the church” is using the track. But that is a surprise to them. They think that no “church” train was scheduled (i.e. no prophet predicted the church). When the unscheduled “church” train passes by, then God will get back to His real business. He will put His scheduled train – Jewish glory – back onto the main track where it belongs.
One leading author calls the church, “an entirely new, unheralded, and unexpected program.” Another writes, “From the moment Christ bowed His head and yielded up His spirit to the Father, all the glories of the kingdom spoken of by the Old Testament seers and prophets have been held in abeyance [i.e. delayed]. The prophetic clock stopped at Calvary. Not one tick has been heard since.” Many books and movies about Christ’s return rest on this view of prophecy. So we should ask, “Did the Old Testament prophets predict the church?” If they did, many people must rethink their ideas about the kingdom, Israel, and the church.
Foretold By Isaiah Consider Isaiah’s most famous chapter, Isaiah 53. All agree that this chapter, along with many Old Testament passages, foretold the suffering of God’s Son (Luke 24:25-26,45-46). Did the prophets also foresee the result, the people His suffering would rescue? Of course they did. That was what the suffering was all about – saving people.
…and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:5-6).
Who were the “we” and the “us” in that prophecy? Everyone was included, since Jesus died for all (John 3:16; Hebrews 2:9). The prophecy comes true especially for those after the cross, for they can actively place their trust in Jesus and turn to Him for healing. Thus Peter applies Isaiah 53 to Christ’s one flock:
By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls (1 Peter 2:24-25).
The “we” of Old Testament prophecy (Isaiah 53) turns out to be, at its sharpest focus, the “you” of the New Testament church (1 Peter 2). While Peter does not use the word “church,” he uses other words for the church. In the same chapter, Peter uses “you” in these collective ways: “a spiritual house… a holy priesthood…a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession” (1 Peter 2:5,9). In family terms, Peter calls the church “the brotherhood” (1 Peter 2:17). This is the family that Isaiah foresaw 700 years earlier. Isaiah predicted that Christ would die and live again to “see His offspring and prolong His days” (Isaiah 53:10). Who are “His offspring”? Jesus died unmarried and childless, so “the offspring” are the fruit of His suffering, the “many” He justifies (Isaiah 53:11-12). Yes, the prophecy of Christ’s death did show its result, the family of God, also known as “the church” (1 Timothy 3:15).
Foretold By David Psalm 22 was like Isaiah 53. It foretold the crucifixion in amazing detail. It plunged into the depths of Christ’s despair. Then it suddenly burst into a victory celebration: “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you” (Psalm 22:22). Hebrews 2:12 quotes this verse and shows how Christ fulfills it. Who does Christ call “My brothers”? Those saved and sanctified by His death, the “many sons” He brings to glory (Hebrews 2:10-11). Thus we know that Psalms 22 predicted the family of God produced by Christ’s death.
Is the word for “church” present in Hebrews 2:12? Yes, for the word ekklesia is there, and it is the Greek word for “church,” “congregation” or “assembly” (all have the same meaning). When David wrote Psalms 22, the “congregation” was the Israelite assembly. But Hebrews 2:12 proves that Psalm 22 looked ahead to the crucifixion and to its outcome. The ekklesia that followed after the crucifixion was Christ’s ekklesia, the gathering of those He saves. It is the same group Jesus had in mind when He too foretold His death, and promised, “I will build My ekklesia” (Matthew 16:18).
Foretold By Moses Another famous prophecy of Christ is Deuteronomy 18:15-19. Moses promised the coming of the Prophet like Moses. Peter quoted from that prophecy to warn Jews,
And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet [Christ] shall be destroyed from the people (Acts 3:23).
Who are “His people”? As Peter applied this prophecy about Christ, “His people” referred to “the church,” which was already growing rapidly even as Peter spoke (Acts 2:41,47; 4:4; 5:11). “His people” could not refer to fleshly Israel – in the sense of that large majority that rejects Christ – for they were being “cut off.” Peter was saying just what Jesus Himself foretold in Matthew 21:43.
…the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits.
“The kingdom” was taken away from unrepentant Israelites. “The kingdom” was given to “a people” who “produce its fruit” of repentance. That new people began with saved Jews (Acts 3:26; 2:36-42), but soon spread to Samaritans (Acts 8:12), then to Gentiles (Acts 2:8,39; 10:1-43; 11:18-21). The apostles called this new people “the church,” and they confirmed that its members were in “the kingdom” (Colossians 1:12-13; 4:11; Romans 14:17; 1 Thessalonians 2:12; Hebrews 12:28; Revelation 1:6,9; Acts 8:12; 19:8; 20:25; 28:23). Many prophets foretold this kingdom and its people (Psalm 2:1-6; 45:6; 110:1-3; 1 Samuel 7:16; 1 Chronicles 17:14; Isaiah 9:6-7; Daniel 2:44; 7:13-14,18,22,27; Matthew 3:2; 4:17; Mark 9:1).
Did the Old Testament foretell that Gentiles believers would be included? Frequently, beginning with the famous prophecies to Abraham (Genesis 12:3; 22:18; 49:10; Deuteronomy 32:43; Psalm 2:8; 18:49; 22:27; 72:17; 117:1; Isaiah 2:2; 9:7; 11:9-10; 40:5; 42:1-6; 45:22; 49:6; 52:15; 55:5; 56:6-8; 60:3; 65:1; 66:19,23; Jeremiah 3:17; 4:2; 16:19; Daniel 2:35; 7:14; Hosea 2:23; Amos 9:11-12; Micah 4:3; Haggai 2:7; Zechariah 2:11; 8:22-23; 9:10; 14:16; Malachi 1:11). Most significantly, when the New Testament quotes any of these prophecies, it shows that they are fulfilled by Gentiles entering the church. (For examples, see how Acts 15 interprets Amos 9; how Romans 9 interprets Hosea 1 and 2; how Romans 10 interprets Deuteronomy 32 and Isaiah 65; how Romans 15 interprets Psalm 18, Deuteronomy 32, Psalm 117, Isaiah 11 and Isaiah 52; and how Galatians 3 interprets Genesis 12.)
Foretold By All the Prophets Earlier we noted Peter’s inspired words in Acts 3:23. At that very time, while identifying “His people” as Christ’s people, Peter went on to say in Acts 3:24,
And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days.
“These days” certainly included that very day when Peter spoke. Peter would not agree, therefore, with the modern writer that says, “The prophetic clock stopped at Calvary. Not one tick has been heard since.” Peter himself shows that prophecy’s clock kept right on ticking (being fulfilled) in the events immediately after Calvary.
- It kept ticking when Christ rose from the grave, for prophecy predicted that resurrection (Isaiah 53:10-11; Psalm 16:8-11; Acts 2:24-31; 13:30-37).
- It kept ticking when Christ ascended to reign beside His Father, for prophecy predicted that rise and that reign (Psalm 110:1-4; Acts 2:24-36; Hebrews 7:21-22).
- It kept ticking when Christ sent the Spirit, for prophecy predicted that (Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:16-21).
- It kept ticking when Good News was preached to the Jews first, for prophecy predicted that blessing (Genesis 22:18 with Acts 3:25-26; Isaiah 52:7 with Romans 10:15-16; Acts 13:32-33; 26:22-23; Romans 9:4).
- It kept ticking when most Jews rejected the Good News, for prophecy predicted their reaction (Habakkuk 1:5 with Acts 13:40-41; Isaiah 53:1 with Romans 10:16; Psalm 118:22 and Isaiah 8:14 with 1 Peter 2:7-8).
- It kept ticking when Gentiles were included in the church, for prophecy predicted their inclusion (Acts 26:22-23; Romans 15:9-12; Isaiah 49:6 with Acts 13:46-48; Amos 9:11-12 with Acts 15:15-18; Isaiah 65:1 with Romans 10:20; Isaiah 29:10 with Romans 11:7-8; Psalm 69:22-23 with Romans 11:9-10; Hosea 1:10; 2:23 with Romans 9:24-26 and 1 Peter 2:10).
- Indeed, the clock will keep on ticking while Christ’s kingdom increases, for prophecy predicted that continual progress (Isaiah 9:6-7; Daniel 2:35,44; Matthew 13:31-33; Psalm 110:1 with 1 Corinthians 15:22-28).
No wonder Peter repeats the key truth of Acts 3:24. He writes to members of the church in 1 Peter 1:10-12:
The prophets… prophesied about the grace that was to be yours… It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.
Again, Old Testament prophets served “you” of the New Testament church. The family chosen “in Christ” was truly on God’s mind from the beginning, and what was on God’s mind was also on the lips and pens of His prophets. This means that modern writers and readers must re-think the importance of the church. It is not an unexpected train (“an entirely new, unheralded, and unexpected program”). It was properly scheduled, and properly announced by the prophets. As Ephesians 2 emphasizes, the church belongs on the main track of God’s “eternal purpose.” Indeed, the church is the vehicle that displays God’s wisdom in the most enduring way, for Ephesians 3 ends by saying, “To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations” (Ephesians 3:20-21). What shall we say to the fact that the church came at the very time the kingdom was to come? Only people who focus on physical power find any conflict there. They want a political kingdom for a fleshly race, and find a spiritual church instead. If they change their focus, they may notice that the kingdom and the church are connected and run together on the same track.